Artist Statement

From early on, Kirsti has always used her creativity as an expression of her own reality. She begins with inspirations from her own family's ties to religion, sisterhood, and emotions such as grief and innocence to produce physical moments. She creates tactile art that is meant to be interacted with, as well as emotionally connected to; forming an intimate experience for the viewer. Her current body of work is made up of characters, bases and environments all sculpted from porcelain. They can interchange positions creating new narratives depending on how they’re set up.  Blurring the line between fine art and functional ceramics, Kirsti brings familiar emotions into tangible experiences.

Curriculum Vitae

Education

Nscad, Halifax — Bachelor of Fine Arts - Major in Ceramics

Sept 2018 - August 2020

Sheridan College, Oakville — Craft and Design - Major in Ceramics

January 2015 - May 2018

University of Waterloo, Waterloo — Arts and Business 

September 2013 - December 2014

Exhibitions 

My Silly Little Demise, Dust Evans Gallery, May 2 - September 19, 2024

Holy Dissonance, Drake Hotel, September 6, 2023

Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, Nathan Phillips Square, July 15-17, 2022 

Terrestrial Paradise, Atelier Lumilda Gallery, May 6- May 29, 2022

AIR Exhibition, Waterloo Clay and Glass Gallery, April 7- May 1, 2022

Patchwork, Anna Leonowens Gallery, January 13- January 18, 2020

11 Layers, Mary E. Black, August 30- September 15, 2019

Pre-Shrunk, Argyle Fine Art, January 25- February 16, 2019 

Ab ovo: Sheridan Ceramics Grad Show, The Gardiner Museum, April 6-22, 2018

Awards 

Ceramic Excellence Award, Toronto Outdoor Arts Fair, 2022 

Publications

https://kawarthanow.com/2023/09/21/viral-peterborough-ceramicist-kirsti-smith-accidentally-stumbled-upon-her-passion/

Employment

Clay and Glass Gallery, Waterloo, ON — Artist in Residence 

February 2022 - April 2022

Mary E. Black Gallery, Halifax, NS Front Desk- Receptionist

June 2020 - January 2021

Craft Nova Scotia, Halifax, NS — Ceramics Instructor 

October 2019 - December 2019