Born August 18, 1981 in La Mirada, California, Kevin Smola has always had a penchant for artistic endeavors. He was encouraged by his parents—his father an engineer and mother a corporate trainer—to immerse himself in creative exploration. Growing up, distractions consisted of sketching comic book characters and selling them to neighbors, participating in school drawing contests and defacing countless notebooks with doodles. Later on, Kevin would realize the significance of his ability and employ it in unforeseen avenues.
Upon graduating from the University of Southern Indiana in 2003 with a degree in Graphic Design, Kevin had his sights set upon an artistic world. Enjoying painting and drawing throughout childhood and educational career, painting seriously wasn’t considered until years after graduation, though, it was in college where he put down the pencil in favor of the brush. After his first commission for an office building in Indianapolis, Kevin started to wonder where this opportunity would take him.
In the Summer of 2005, Kevin was awarded the Stutz Artists Association Artist In Residence Grant. The opportunity to paint with other like-minded individuals and artists proved to be beneficial as more commissions and purchases of artwork came his way. His technique evolved and now displays an expressiveness that dapples each canvas with vibrant color and undulating textures. After showing in galleries locally, corporate art buyers also took notice and Kevin’s work has gone into collections across the country.
Kevin currently lives in the Indianapolis area with his wife and two sons. Affiliated with the Arts Council of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Downtown Artists and Dealers Association (IDADA), Kevin is currently a member of the Stutz Artists Association located in the historic Stutz Building, where Stutz Bearcat automobiles rolled off the assembly line shortly after the turn of the century. The location’s history and unique character of the many artists that surround Kevin continue to enrich his work and his passion today.