Harold Smith
Multidisciplinary Artist
Harold Smith (b. 1962) is a Kansas City–based multidisciplinary artist whose vibrant expressionist works explore the complexities of Black masculinity, cultural identity, and social justice. Born in Kansas City, Kansas, Smith earned a B.S. in computer science from Union College, an A.A. from Kansas
City Kansas Community College, and an M.A.T. from Webster University. While pursing art, he taught computer science—merging his technical skills with creative expression.
Smith paints primarily in acrylic and mixed media, often layering bold brushstrokes with collage and sound, performance, or film. His work is heavily influenced by jazz, with roots in figurative urban expressionism inspired by artists like Matisse, Emil Nolde, Joan Mitchell, Jacob Lawrence, and Kerry James Marshall His acclaimed “Man of Color” series offers a visceral exploration of Black male identity in America, prompted by his feeling of invisibility as a “regular, hardworking” individual in a polarized media landscape.
Among his significant shows are "Colors of Jazz" at the American Jazz Museum (2011), “Can You See Me?” at the Nerman Museum (2019), and presentations in France at Cognac Blues Passions and Le Moulin du Logis. In film, he directed Natasha - Portrait of an Urban Poet (2011), The Gospel According to Glenn North (2017) and Manhood Interrupted (2010), addressing themes of racism, gender, and historical context.
A committed activist, Smith founded the online journal UrbanKore, was a founding member of Black Space Black Art, and is part of the African American Artists Collective. He focuses his art and writing on uplifting Black voices and critiquing systemic inequality.
Smith’s work is marked by aggressive, color-saturated strokes, jazz-infused dynamism, and layered commentary on race, economics, and identity. His pieces test conventional narratives, urging audiences to truly “see” the human experience beneath the surface storyline.
In sum, Harold Smith’s dynamic blend of painting, writing, film, and activism creates a compelling body of work that holds a mirror to society—demanding visibility, understanding, and equity for Black men and broader cultural communities.