We were lucky to catch up with Quartez Smith recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Quartez, thanks for joining us today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

Art for me is cathartic. Not to paint a sob story, but my life is one of overcoming darkness and struggles. A child sexual abuse, and bullying survivor. Art was the only escape a young Quartez had to make sense of the world I was brought into. While I wish none of these things happened to me. I’m grateful because it built character and strength inside of me. My story isn’t all about sadness. It’s about longevity and in the midst of pain growing into the human you’re meant to be.

I hope my work will speak to other children and adults who’ve survived the same things. You are not your past. You are what you make of things. I hope to transcend the notion of stereotypes. To consciously exist outside of societal norms and boxes. Most importantly showing others no one is ever stuck. As long as you’re still breathing there are options and ways to change the narrative. I’m what you can call a “black optimist. I refuse to let darkness dull my illumination.

Quartez, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m originally from Louisville, KY, and have resided in Orlando, FL for the past 11 years. I’m a fully independent, self-taught, and funded visual artist.

I professionally started my journey as a commissioned artist in the middle of the pandemic. I was working full-time as a cake decorator for Publix when I fell ill with COVID. I was running low on funds. Using all my sick and vacation pay. I was worried about how I would survive. When a good friend of mine Dominic Gasparoly in LA hit me up. He works in the art/interior decor industry. He’d mentioned to me several times that I should get out there and display my art. But my insecurity always held me back. With nothing the lose I mustered up the bravey to just step out there. He was working with a high-profile client and was looking for an upcoming artist to collaborate with. Thankfully he didn’t disclose who it was cause I’d probably chickened out. Long story short I was given a color pallet to work with. Luckily I had a painting I’d started in high school that fitted those exact specs. This is several years in the making. Call it synchronicity. An 8×12 multimedia acrylic piece. I set my price at $200 not expecting it to even sell for that.
I revisited the painting and finished it. Mailed it out to Dominic. Then waited to hear about its arrival. When it did I was received with so much love. The price I asked for was multiplied and I was paid $1500! I was completely blown away. In addition to being paid so well, it was revealed who the high-profile client was. International DJ/ Producer David Guetta. I was also going to be published in a national architecture interior decor coffee book. The final icing on the cake was my painting would be displayed hanging across from one of my biggest art inspirations. Jean Michel Basquiat! I was floored. This was my first ever step into the professional world of art. Since then I’ve had 2 other commissions. I’m currently working on future projects as we speak.

My work is inspired by surrealism, pop, and graphic art. A child of the 90’s nostalgia, bright colors, and imaginative imagery are all things I pull from. I’ve gone through several phases as an artist. Sometimes my work is very abstract then at times very literal. I’ve studied the greats. as i mentioned above I love Basquiat. But I’ve also drawn heavy inspiration from artists like Salvador Dali, and Andy Warhol.

People can find me through my social media page.

Instagram / Qtheartist4

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Getting behind negative self talk.

I’ve drawn, and painted a majority of my life. Always second-guessing my talents. Always feeling inferior to other creatives. I’ve come to understand that this negativity is such a hindrance. Art is subjective… You never know how a piece my invoke a feeling with an audience. I’ve had to learn to walk away from art pieces that don’t work at the time of creating them. Sometimes you have to come back with fresh eyes. That can take days, weeks, months or even years.

I can’t speak for other creatives, but for me art is channeling something bigger than myself. It’s as if a higher power is pouring inspiration into me. It’s not something I just turn on. Art has to speak to me. Art is something that needs to be born. If I can tap into that pure source it comes naturally.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

Yes, for my second piece. I was reviewing a perfume by Trans activist and star TS Madison. I’d filmed a review of the product and she messaged me with thanks for support of her product. In the course of our speaking, I offered to paint an original piece. She obliged and the rest was history. I just sent the painting to her a few weeks ago. Still on a high from again stepping out on faith. No one will see you if you don’t believe in yourself.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Qtheartist4 / Qu4rtez