Shelby B. Smith

Shelby B. Smith is a Sculptor who uses all types of media to create works that stretch the potential of materials and the imagination.  His work has a fantastical and humorous quality that influences his Re-use of many materials. Shelby uses wheel-thrown and hand-built combinations in clay, making functional and sculptural work using multiple clay bodies and firing techniques. His mixed media sculpture uses the history and patina of time in each object's construction.

Trained as an Architect, Shelby began working in Ceramics at the University of Kansas in 1998, where he received a double degree in Architecture(BA) and Design Ceramics(BFA), 2000.  Shelby then went on to Apprentice with noted ceramic sculptor Jun Kaneko at his studio in Omaha, Nebraska for 2 years.  Shelby received an MFA from San Jose State University in CA, 2006.  Before Moving to the Big Island, Shelby was the Ceramics and Glass Technician for SJSU’s Art dept., as well as a part-time instructor in Ceramics and Sculpture, in the South Bay Area, CA.

After 10 years of being on the Big Island, Shelby has worked for the Volcano Art Center as the Gallery Manager/Show Curator, EHCC/EHMOCA as the Curator/Gallery Show Installer, worked in the Orchid industry for a small R/D nursery, and he currently works at Hawaii Academy of Arts and Science as the Studio Art teacher. He is on the Boards of the Paradise Studio Artist Collective and The Arts and Sciences Center.

His works are in many private/public collections, across the US, Canada, Denmark, Australia, Russia. His studio is located on the east-side of the Big Island.

He and His Partner Kim just built a New Studio in 2021-2022.