BIO
Brad Ford Smith is a third generation Texan and a second generation Texas artist. Brad’s parents were accomplished artists who in the late 50’s created an art studio in their home. Brad grew up always knowing he would be an artist like his parents. Several years ago, through happenstance and hard work Brad purchased his childhood home, and today has successfully resurrected his parent’s studio.
Brad uses organic, abstract forms to focus on how the eye and mind translate information, and how the visual experience and the thought process can be altered with optical and mechanical manipulations. Brad’s artwork has been exhibited throughout Dallas and Chicago, where he resided shortly after earning his BFA in painting and printmaking from the Kansas City Art Institute.
In addition to making art, Brad uses the studio for his work as an art conservator where he specializes in wooden artifacts and small furniture pieces. He is a professional associate of the American Institute of Conservation and has a select clientele of collectors throughout Texas.
Today he resides in Dallas and typically spends his time working in the studio, traveling, cooking exotic dishes for his sweetheart, and herding cats.
Selected Exhibitions
2012
Fresh Faces 2X2 Bath House Culture Center, Dallas TX
2011
Aurora 2011 Dallas Arts District, Dallas TX
Rapid 2011 Contemporary Art Gallery RAPID Conference, Minneapolis MN
Sketchbook Project 2011 Brooklyn Art Library, Art House Co-op, Brooklyn NY
Out Side The Loop Water Tower Theatre, Addison TX
2010
TEDxSMU and SculptCAD Rapid Artists One Arts Plaza, Dallas, TX
SculptCAD Rapid Artists Project SME Rapid 2010 Conference, Anaheim, CA
Art In The District Fairmont Hotel, Dallas, TX (2010)
Make Space: Installation Project La Reunion Texas, Dallas, TX
2009
Just Below the Skin a River Flows Mighty Fine Arts, Oak Cliff, TX
Second Annual LRTX Tree Carving La Reunion Texas, Dallas, TX
2008
So… What the Hell is it? Janette Kennedy Gallery, Dallas, TX
First Annual LRTX Tree Carving La Reunion Texas, Dallas, TX
EASL Art Heist Emergency Artists, Support League, Ft. Worth, TX
2007
8.5 X 11” Project, Phase 1 Arts + Literature Laboratory, New Haven, CT
Art with a View Belmont Hotel Group Show, Oak Cliff, TX
5 X 7 Art Splurge Arthouse at the Jones Center, Austin, TX
2006
Organic Edge Gallery 414, Fort Worth, TX (
5 X 7 Art Splurge Arthouse at the Jones Center, Austin, TX
Rock, Paper, Scissors Susan Giller Open Studio, Dallas, TX
EASL Art Heist Emergency Artists, Support League, Dallas, TX
2005
OGO Project Untitled [ArtSpace], Oklahoma City, OK
New American Talent: The 20th Exhibition Arthouse at the Jones Center, Austin, TX
New Work, New Year Gray Matters Gallery, Dallas, TX
2004
Expo 2004 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
2003
Site Specific Cidnee Patrick Gallery, Dallas, TX
Artist Residencies and Programs
Professional Development Program Creative Capital, AMOA/Arthouse, Austin TX 2011
SculptCAD Rapid Artists Project Dallas,TX 2010
Vermont Studio Center Johnson, VT 2009
Untitled [ArtSpace] Oklahoma, OK 2005
Writings
Guest blogger, KERA Art & Seek Public TV/Radio, Dallas/Fort Worth, TX 2008 – Present
Dyslexic Ramblings of an Artistic Life Blogging about the creative process 2008 – Present
Education
Kansas City Art Institute, B.F.A. Painting & Printmaking, Kansas City, MO
Alliance of Independent Colleges of Art, Independent Study Program, NYC, NY
Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Dallas, TX
Work History
Studio Six Art Conservation LLC Dallas, TX, Owner Specializing in the conservation of wooden objects and historical artifacts 2006 – Present
Beam Plank and Flitch Dallas TX, Partner Urban tree harvesting 2009 – 2011
Art Restorations Inc. Dallas, TX, Senior Art Conservator, Supervisor of the Wood Artifact Department 1993 – 2006
Chicago Historical Society Chicago, IL Exhibition Technician, Assistant Collections Curator 1990 – 1993
Teaching & Presentations
TEDx SMU Auditions Selected Presenter, Dallas TX 2011
The Expressive figure in Clay Art Instructor, Arts Center, Dallas, TX
2011
Pecha Kucha – Volume 3 Selected Presenter, AIA Office, Dallas, TX 2010
DaVinci at Night Art Instructor, Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, Fort Worth, TX 2010
DMA Flickr Meet Up Event Coordinator, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX
2010
Sketching in the Galleries Art Instructor, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX
2009
Making Space for Artists: Design-A-Studio Jury Panelist, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX
2009
You Have a What? Preservation of Unusual Objects in Your Collection Presenter, Texas Library Association Annual Conference, Houston, TX
2009
High School AP Art Class Art Instructor, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX
2008
Drawing from the Collection Art Instructor, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX
2007
Sketching in the Galleries Art Instructor, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX
2007
Drawing from the Collection Art Instructor, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX
2006
Designing Hand Printed Cards Art Instructor, Untitled [ArtSpace], Oklahoma, OK
2006
Sketching in the Galleries Art Instructor, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX 2005
Associations, Committees, & Memberships
American Institute for Conservation Professional Associate since 1995
Creative Arts Center of Dallas Instructor
Dallas Contemporary
Dallas Museum of Art
La Reunion TX Broad Member, Program Chair
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
Nasher Sculpture Center
North Texas Association for Art Conservation Acting President
Texas Association of Museums
