EMORY UNIVERSITY in Atlanta, Ga., welcomed TK Smith as curator of the arts of Africa and the diaspora at the Michael C. Carlos Museum. Smith is a curator, writer, lecturer, and cultural historian who has been based in Atlanta and Philadelphia, Pa. His new appointment at the campus museum was announced Aug. 1.
“TK is a remarkable communicator who connects people with ideas, knowledge and beauty and makes art accessible,” Henry S. Kim, associate vice-provost and director of the Carlos Museum, said in a statement.
“As a cultural historian and storyteller, he uses art as [a] portal for understanding our histories, revealing ideas that are often undervalued or unexpressed. I look forward to the work he will do in listening and responding to the needs of our communities.”
Smith was most recently the inaugural Assistant Curator: Art of the African Diaspora at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia (2022-2024), where he worked on several projects and a few shows including “William Edmondson: A Monumental Vision.” During his tenure at the Barnes, he was a curator-in-residence at Yinka Shonibare’s Guest Artist Space (G.A.S.) Residency in Lagos, Nigeria (2023).
“As a cultural historian and storyteller, [TK Smith] uses art as [a] portal for understanding our histories, revealing ideas that are often undervalued or unexpressed.” — Carlos Museum Director Henry S. Kim
As an independent curator, Smith has organized a number of exhibitions. This year, his shows include “Hand to Mouth,” a group exhibition at Stove Works in Chattanooga, Tenn., and “Material Memory: Kelly Taylor Mitchell & Sergio Suarez” at Swan Coach House Gallery in Atlanta. He also curated “Roland Ayers: Calligraphy of Dreams” at the Woodmere Art Museum in Philadelphia (2021) and the 2021 Atlanta Biennial (Virtual Remains) at Atlanta Contemporary.
In addition, as the inaugural Tina Dunkley curatorial fellow in American Art at Clark Atlanta University Art Museum (2018-20), Smith presented “Looming Chaos,” a solo exhibition of Zipporah Camille Thompson at Bernard A. Zuckerman Museum of Art at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Ga. (2020).
Smith was awarded an Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant for short-form writing in 2022. A contributing editor at Art Papers, he has been a visiting lecturer at Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (2021-24). In terms of his academic background, he earned an undergraduate degree in English and African American studies and a master’s degree in American Studies, both from Saint Louis University. Currently, he is a Ph.D., candidate in the American Civilization program in the Department of History at the University of Delaware
This month, Smith joined Emory University’s Carlos Museum. The appointment announcement said: “With his expertise in contemporary art, craft tradition, and material culture, TK will bring our vast collection of African objects into present day historical, political, and cultural dialogues happening across the African continent and its diaspora.” CT
IMAGE: TK Smith, 2024. | Photo by Jonathan Echevarria
FIND MORE about TK Smith on his website and Instagram
FIND MORE ARTnews reported on recent staff cuts at the Barnes Foundation, including the departure of Smith who spoke to the outlet. He also shared his experience at the Philadelphia art museum in a lengthy Instagram post, adding: “My goal in making this post was to make my communities aware of what was going on at the Barnes, to provide clarity on my termination, to help my colleagues feel seen…”
BOOKSHELF
TK Smith authored “Roland Ayers: Calligraphy of Dreams,” which was published on the occasion of his exhibition at the Woodmere Art Museum. Smith also contributed text and editing to “William Edmondson: A Monumental Vision,” the exhibition catalog published by the Barnes Foundation.
