Art as Cool as the Artist — Sophisticated St. Louis

Written By Craig Kaminer

Rarely do you meet someone who reminds you of a modern-day Leonardo da Vinci -- with the talent of a painter, a sculptor and an architect -- and the physique of Michelangelo’s David. Originally a high school art teacher, 39-year-old Zack Smithey’s multiple artistic intelligences are just the beginning of his story.

I first saw Zack’s work in a neighbor’s home and then checked him out online. At the time what caught my eye was a series of Mark Twain portraits, but his work has expanded considerably from interpretations of Abraham Lincoln and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a range of abstract concepts from waves to stripes and infinitely customized homes he builds himself out of reclaimed shipping containers. Recently, 4 Hands Brewing Company released City Wide American Pale Ales with his Twain and Lincoln images on the can, and AB InBev is releasing limited edition coolers featuring local artists from around the country with Zack representing St. Louis. While nothing has been announced yet, Zack told me one side of the cooler will have a sports theme featuring the Cardinals and Blues and the other side St. Louis’ notable historic landmarks.

“Our team has collaborated with Zack Smithey on a number of custom commissions over the years, and we have enjoyed every moment of working with him,” says Ashley Mendez, partner at TOC Artwork in St. Louis. “One of Zack’s true talents is that he knows how to dream bigger. He often challenges our design team to think outside of the box which brings value to our projects. Most importantly, I trust Zack and know with full confidence that he will execute and deliver his work on time and above expectations.”

When I stopped by Zack’s studio in St. Charles recently, he was working out. By the size of the dumbbells and his muscles, he must do this daily. Before we discussed his career as an artist, we discussed his diet, intermittent fasting and workouts. Zack’s imagination, unique abilities and visual boldness have attracted almost 15,000 social media followers.

Zack’s work stands out because of its striking abstract images and colors, the large size of the paintings and Zack’s personality which marries his quiet intensity, his bold and playful images and perseverance. His mind and brush keep moving, so it’s no wonder that he has caught the eye of many collectors with more than 3,000 paintings sold to date. “I was an art teacher for seven years and painted whenever I could, and became a full time artist in 2013. I am proud to say that every year since doing this full time has been better than the last. In addition to being known for my art, my work ethic is second to none, and that has served me well. I still work every day except Christmas.”

Nicole Lewis, head of projects and design at Rise to the Location, said, “I love Zack. He is so amazing to work with from the start of the creation to the completion. He has a vision and you can say just two words and he will create exactly what you are thinking. He’s a fantastic artist and a great person. He is so kind, patient and just genuine. In my line of business -- it’s great to have relationships and to work with people that you honestly can’t get enough of.”

“Working with Zack was a breeze!” says April Jensen, founder of ADJ Interiors. “He listened and created multiple options in the genre we commissioned to fulfill our needs -- one was better than the next! I love his color and energy. All of his work is so unique and exciting. I have been following him for many years, becoming obsessed with his work when I saw him do a live painting of Mark Twain. I was hooked.”

In addition to art, Zack designs shipping container homes (St. Charles in 2016) and Old North neighborhood (STL in 2019), one of which he currently lives in. Each is unique to the owner, but Zack’s is like a world unto itself. Bright colors, flowing lines, optical illusions and whimsey make it uniquely Smithey. The homes reflect Zack’s sense of activism to reuse discarded materials and turn them into precious objects. While homeowner’s associations may have something to say about the designs not fitting into their rigid requirements, no one can argue that Zack’s container homes are the coolest residences on the block.

Smithey has had more than 100 solo and group shows in New York City, St. Louis, Palm Beach, Palm Springs, Laguna Beach and La Jolla to mention a few. He has produced art/film work for Lincoln Center in New York (YouTube - A Short Film for the End of Time) and created a series of art videos for world-renowned pianist Inon Barnatan (YouTube - Darknesse Visible). Boeing commissioned him to create two steel sculptures for their St. Louis headquarters. The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center of the La Jolla Music Society commissioned a performance piece. He received a commission to create album art for The Smother Party, the fifth release of the Brooklyn-based band The Eyesores. Smithey is the creator of the Easter Art Hunt in St. Louis.

He has been published or featured in the New Yorker, CURBED (a part of New York Magazine), the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis At Home Magazine, All The Art: The Visual Art Quarterly of St. Louis, INSIDER, St. Louis Magazine, StreetScapes Magazine, St. Louis Homes & Lifestyles, Uptown Magazine, Community News, Lindenwood Connection and St. Charles Magazine. He has been covered/interviewed on Netflix, NBC, Fox, CBS and USA Today.