Meet Kerem SmithStone | Artist/Oil Painter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kerem SmithStone and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kerem, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and was lucky enough to have spent a significant portion of my childhood there before moving to the United States at the age of 10. My childhood in Ethiopia determined the direction my life would take, and had an unmistakable influence on me as an artist. I grew up In the town of Kirkos, just on the edge of the main part of the city. I rarely went to school and would spend most days on the streets with my neighborhood friends. For us, we were the center of the world and never worried about what anyone else was doing. We just got up and took on the world. That was a time of freedom. Even though we had nothing, we really had everything. One valuable episode I will never forget came when I was just 7 years old. I became extremely aware and terrified at the size and scope of nature and all aspects of it. I would go out to see the rocks, rivers, and birds, and be almost frozen stunned at the sheer size and scope of the manifestations around me. Sounds bizarre since most of us learn to take nature for granted, but in my childhood, I still maintained a value and awe of nature that sticks with me to this day. And here I am now in beautiful Colorado and I spend as much time as possible outdoors in nature. During those times in childhood, What gave me strength was to look down at my hands and feet and see that I too am a part of this immense process, and just knowing that, left me completely in tears. I found myself in a symbiosis with my environment, both the man-made, and the natural. But every deep reflection and piece of art, I recreate the feelings I had. My childhood was by no means easy or free from tragedy. I faced many hardships and real life situations that also stick with me, but the freedom I was given allowed me to face any situation with no fear or hesitation.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My main medium of creating art is oil paints, and with the richness of the colors and textures, I seek to bring forth in creative form, my unique voice, and my unique background.

Creativity for me is a process of self discovery, paralleled with bringing forth into the world an aspect of beauty. I seek a unique beauty that connects the self with others in infinite possible ways. I approach infinite potential by deeply reflecting on the self and the unique life and childhood I have lived. Even in the colors of the art I create, are the colors of my childhood, the colors of Ethiopia. These visceral memories of what was, have set my soul free.

I love painting birds. They symbolize absolute freedom. I place them on top of human heads to represent a spirituality that echoes my childhood in Ethiopia. Also the symbiosis with nature I believe to be profound and the path to personal freedom. Art for me is almost religious in that sense, I seek to connect to a high way of Being and seeing. Taking the time needed to create with full intention and to establish a feeling of freedom. A spiritual feeling for me that echoes childhood. I usually paint a diverse array of characters from many backgrounds. But one consistent entry is Ethiopian characters and figures. Depicting them in a relaxed setting, absolutely carefree and unconcerned, usually with a bird on the head. Just the way I felt as a youth coming up in the world.
My journey currently has me in pursuit of full time status, where I am confident I will step into a new level of growth and learning. I Have exhibited in New York City, Denver, and Boulder, With a show planed for early next year in LA.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
For me, I usually keep it simple and stick to nature. A hike, a camp, and almost anything in nature will get me to step out. I love the Boulder creek, it’s basically the closest thing to a beach we got and it really comes through on hot summer days. For inspiration, I love hitting local flea markets and pop up events. There I can find cool pieces of art, clothing, and trinkets, with cool, like minded people to nerd out with. I love being around the hustle of everyday working people, especially those who make their living through their art and various side hustles and small businesses. Whenever my out of town friends visit, I’m always taking them to the flea and thrift. The Goodwill outlet Bins are an amazing place to spend basically the whole day, spend very little, and come away with some great finds. Most of my friends are also into scavenging the bins and racks, and even on slow days, it’s an adventure with many opportunities for growth, and inspiration.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to Shout Out my loving parents.Elise Stone, and Crige Smith. Both are artists, and it was absolutely through their strength and encouragement, that I am able to create any art at all. Even from a very young age, they allowed me the safe space to draw and to learn various skills in the arts. I can’t speak enough about how valuable and powerful their encouragement for me has been. Especially since I was a kid who moved to America very young. I was adopted from Ethiopia after losing my birth parents early in life and I did not find it easy to adjust at the start. They not only allowed me the space to adjust, but to flourish. They allowed me to trust in my path and be confident that my skills can drive me forward.

I also want to shout out to my Grandmother Sandy Stone, who was one of my biggest fans and always displayed immense joy whenever I showed her my work. She was passionate about the arts and even had a wonderful collection of works that would inspire me from such a young age. She would later on be one of my biggest supporters and it meant the world to me.

Website: https://artofkerem.com

Instagram: https://upper.yaard