Born August 18, 1981 in La Mirada, California, Kevin Smola has always had a penchant for artistic endeavors. He was encouraged by his parents to immerse himself in creative exploration. Distractions consisted of sketching cartoon characters and selling them to neighbors, participating in school drawing contests and filling countless notebooks with drawings. Later, 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 his educational career, painting seriously wasn’t considered until years after graduation. However, it was in college where he put down the pencil in favor of the brush. After Kevin’s first commission for an office building in Indianapolis, he started increasing his production.
In the Summer of 2005, Kevin was awarded the Stutz Artists Association Artist In Residence Grant. His technique evolved and now displays an expressiveness that dapples each canvas with vibrant color and undulating textures. Soon after, patrons 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. Kevin and his work have been represented in New York City by Agora Gallery and exhibited internationally in locations such as Paris, France and Bologna, Italy.