ABOUT+CV
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Taylor smalls is a contemporary portrait artist specializing in palette knife painting +
water washing.
Her work
aims to MEMORIALIZE womxn of color
in a bold, proud,
and celebratory light.
Biography
Based in Oakland, California, Smalls’ work studies the kaleidoscopic depth of Black and Brown skin through the layering of highly pigmented color.
It celebrates the endless nuances of melanated womxn by amplifying and exaggerating the underlying tones in colored skins that are often depicted dulled down or neglected, much like the people who inhabit them.
Smalls has been working as a gynocentric painter since 2012, and continues to do so out of her West Oakland studio.
Education
2012-2016
BA, University of San Francisco, Architecture
Studio
West Oakland, California
Email
taylor.e.smalls@gmail.com
— Select private collections —
Pixar, HQ
OWN Network, HQ
LogiTech, HQ
Block, HQ
Burdell’s
Sobre Mesa
— solo exhibitions —
2024
march - july. • throughline // vol.1 (traveling) • pixar hq • emeryville, ca
2023
nov. - dec. • throughline // vol.1 • 1500 broadway • oakland, ca
may • flowstate • the birdcage • san francisco, ca
2021
jan - feb. • she and I, them and us, glass rice • san francisco, ca
2018
july - sept. • weiji • southern pacific • san francisco, ca
2017
april • initial • bazaar cafe • san francisco, ca
— Group Exhibitions—
2021
june - aug. • heatwave • duo show with anoushka mirchandani • legion projects • healdsburg, ca
2020
july - aug. • community • glass rice gallery • san francisco, ca
2019
aug. - nov. • eudaimonia • southern pacific • san francisco, ca
july • resuscitate • jules maeght gallery • san francisco, ca
2018
nov. - jan. • woc • manny’s • san francisco, ca
nov. • the right left hand • 111 minna gallery • san francisco, ca
2017
june • summer of love • 111 minna gallery • san francisco, ca
june • where past meets present • dada gallery • san francisco, ca
april • nasty woman • omi gallery • oakland, ca
march • for the mamis • nomans • san francisco, ca
feb. • connected • public works • san francisco, ca
2016
dec. • silent night • haight gallery • san francisco, ca
july • solidarity - unity - acceptance • 111 minna gallery • san francisco, ca
july • familiar deconstructed • smash gallery • san francisco, ca
may • what is your sanctuary • 111 minna gallery • san francisco, ca
may - july • imprinted • thatcher gallery • san francisco, ca
april • sanctuary • de young museum • san francisco, ca
april - june • 31st made in california juried exhibition • city of brea art gallery • brea, ca
march • global women’s right forum • usfca • san francisco, ca
2015
may - july • intermedia • thatcher gallery • san francisco, ca
may • grow a pair • incline gallery • san francisco, ca
— Speaking engagements + MORE —
Visit Oakland Speaking Engagement – Artist Panel, 2023
Bay Area Mural Program Speaking Engagement – Artist panel. Oakland, 2022
Head of Art Curation for Square HQ, Oakland, CA, 2022
Rodan & Fields Speaking Engagement - On the value of representation in contemporary art spaces as artists, subjects, gallerists, collectors. San francisco, 2021
video content created by Velvet Hammer Studios.