Kirkland Smith

Biography

Realist painter Kirkland Thomas Smith was born in Charleston, South Carolina. She earned a BA degree from the University of South Carolina in Studio Arts, concentrating on ceramics and sculpture.  This early 3-Dimensional work helped shape her thinking about form in painting. She began her painting career after graduation, focusing primarily on portrait work.  Later, she received her classical training at Studio Escalier in France, where she studied drawing and painting.  The training in France has led her to pursue more still-life and figurative work.  She meets weekly with other artists to paint from live models, in the classical tradition.  Her paintings are now in private collections across the country.  Kirkland lives in Columbia, SC, with her husband and four children.