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Willie Wayne Smith

@williewaynesmith

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Happy first day of school! @cranbrook_art @cranbrookpainting ☀️📓 Excited for the year ahead!

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Fun on “film” 📸

1-4: 26th birthday in Houston with the one and only TKels 💕
5-13: Dragged my mom to my first trip to NY 🗽
14-15: Bruno Mars with my pals!

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The part where I get to work at Cranbrook is over. The last 8 months were a joy that I'm really grateful I had the opportunity and time to take. I got to work really hard on things I loved and make friends who were just as passionate while doing it, which is all I've ever really wanted.

I had to discard certain things along the way, and that was great too. Moving out of the studio meant making room in my storage, where all the duds from last year resided. I threw them out. The dumpster ate their bodies, but their lessons will remain. And it felt good.

I've made a few 8x10 acrylic paintings on panel as parting gifts for a few people. A goodbye for now, but not forever.

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feels a little like a dream but mostly like a big group hug 🫂✨

thank u my friends and family for supporting me with open arms. your endless hugs made this possible :)

a special thank u @williewaynesmith and @marthamysko for being in my corner every step of the way. 🩵 your compassion is inspiring, your mentorship is precious, and im forever grateful to know you both as the creative and kind humans you are.

on tooooooooooo the next …… ?

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I’ll forever be thankful to Cranbrook and @cranbrookpainting for all the incredible people and artists I’ve been able to meet. Truly friends and family for life. ❤️ love and miss y’all already!

I’ll be continuing my MFA at @utstudiomfa this fall so if you’re in Austin don’t be a stranger!

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HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to our class of 2026 graduates! We are so proud of all of you! 💗 can’t wait to see what’s next! (@runaroundart not pictured)

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We had the best time in NYC last week! Huge thank you to all the artists that generously invited us into their studios and shared their work. It was great to meet up with Cranbrook painting + sculpture alumni and friends! Until next time!
🫶🏙️

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Willie Wayne Smith
Madonna of Some Small Change
2025
Acrylic on canvas
20x18 inches

Willie Wayne Smith is the Co-Head of Painting at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. Working mostly in acrylics and airbrush, his practice is highly influenced by various art historical movements including Photorealism, Assemblage, Pop Art, and Surrealism. Through his artistic practice, he has worked to develop a unique visual language, creating paintings that feel simultaneously familiar and unsettling. Dreamlike and often bizarre, Smith’s compositions seek to challenge the viewer’s perception of depth and reality. Check out this piece and others at Nik Pence Gallery on Saturdays 12-6pm
#williewaynesmith

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Please join us on Saturday February 7th, noon to 6pm to celebrate the next presentation of work at Nik Pence Gallery.
32751 Franklin Rd
Franklin MI

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Willie Wayne Smith creates vibrant, layered paintings that blend abstraction, photorealism, and surrealism, drawing inspiration from his Central Florida upbringing, childhood imagery, and stream-of-consciousness narratives. Working in acrylic and airbrush, he explores personal and societal themes through richly atmospheric compositions. Smith is Co-Head of Painting and Artists-in-Residence at Cranbrook Academy of Art.

SOFT RETURN is open now, on view December 12 through January 2, presented by HARD RETURN in Chicago.
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#SoftReturn #HardReturn #HardReturnChicago #ChicagoArt #ChicagoGallery #CranbrookAlumni #ArtistRunSpace #ContemporaryArt #GroupExhibition #IndependentArt #ReturnAndRemain #WorkInConversation #ArtAndMemory #InBetweenMoments

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Big thanks to David Klein Galley for hosting Cranbrook Painting this week.

@alheldfoundation
@davidkleingallery

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