We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cassandra Smith a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Cassandra, appreciate you joining us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

I was fortunate to sell two of the three pieces I created for my senior thesis. As anyone who has undertaken a senior thesis or project knows, you pour your whole life into your work for months. It certainly felt like the world’s biggest accomplishment at the time, and the satisfaction of selling that work was deeply rewarding. I truly believe it gave me the confidence I still have today, knowing that my work is desired and has value. Three of the pieces I made were sequin-covered taxidermy, and while my work has grown and evolved, those early pieces planted the seed for what it has become today.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am an artist and designer living in Milwaukee, WI with my husband and son. I studied sculpture at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, which gave me the foundation for a successful career as an artist. After graduating, I spent several years working a full-time office job to support my art practice. During this time, I was showing my work in galleries and had many amazing opportunities for my work to be seen, but I wasn’t regularly selling pieces. In 2011, I was let go from the office job and took the opportunity to focus entirely on my art.

My first major breakthrough came from selling naturally shed, hand-painted deer antlers on Etsy. These became wildly popular and were featured in Better Homes & Gardens, US Weekly, and Harper’s Bazaar. I also had the incredible opportunity to sell my work through Terrain (Anthropologie’s home store) and Bergdorf Goodman. These antlers jump-started my career as a working artist and are something I continue to make and sell today. I have also expanded into creating and selling larger installations and taxidermy pieces. I’ve made over 20 painted, taxidermy deer, including one permanently on display at the Hewing Hotel in Minneapolis. I also craft hand-painted monkey’s fist knots, which are featured in several hotels across the country.

Now I get the bulk of my commissions through art consulting agencies who source my work for hotels, restaurants, luxury apartment buildings, and private residences. I also just participated in my first large art fair, The Other Art Fair in Chicago, which was an amazing experience that I plan to do again this coming spring.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I wish I had known about art consulting agencies sooner, as working with them has changed the trajectory of my career. They source art for interior design projects, acting as a bridge between artists and clients. The agencies I’ve worked with most, DAC Art Consulting and Kevin Barry Fine Art, collaborate with artists to create custom pieces that fit specific spaces and design needs. They also understand the ins and outs of being an artist, and they value the work that goes into making custom art. I think any artist who likes to make custom, decorative or installation work should be in connection with an art consulting agency.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being an artist is seeing my work out in the world. I thrive on seeing my work in businesses and homes. You’d be surprised how rare it is to actually see photos of my work once it’s installed! Often, I send out work for a client, and it can be months or even years before it’s actually installed, and even longer before it’s photographed. I just sent some painted knots to an interior designer in Florida, and they were installed pretty quickly, but due to some renovations, they won’t be photographing them until 2025. All that is to say, installation shots are rare, and I truly appreciate them! I love knowing that someone wants to live with my artwork and see it every day.

The same goes for talking with people about my art. I mentioned earlier that I recently participated in my first art fair in Chicago, and the feedback I got from people was amazing. It was so validating to hear people say they would love to have my work in their homes so they could see it every day. I left that art fair feeling so lifted up and supported by people I had never met before; it was an incredible feeling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cassandra-smith.com
• Instagram: madebycassandrasmith
• Facebook: madebycassandrasmith

Image Credits

Julie Ghatan
Stephanie Rau