Tieshka Smith is a Philadelphia-based photographer who makes candid images that challenge prevailing notions of otherness. Her work is a vehicle through which she explores the ways that marginalized people interact with one another and with shared but unsanctioned public spaces. It is her goal to create images that facilitate dialogue and action around a range of socioeconomic issues that impact urban communities and the people who live in them. Smith has contributed work to Certain Circuits magazine, the Mt. Airy Patch, FIN magazine and other blogs and publications. Also, her work has been exhibited in galleries and other community spaces both in Philadelphia and the New York City area, including Next City’s Storefront for Urban Innovation, Eris Temple Arts and Flying Kite Media, via their On the Ground neighborhood initiative.

A Chicago native, Smith is a graduate of Northwestern University and Keller Graduate School of Management.

Smith has contributed work to Certain Circuits magazine, the Mt. Airy Patch, FIN magazine and other blogs and publications. Also, her work has been exhibited in galleries and other community spaces both in Philadelphia and the New York City area, including Next City’s Storefront for Urban Innovation, Eris Temple Arts and Flying Kite Media, via their On the Ground neighborhood initiative.

EXHIBITIONS/INSTALLATIONS (*Solo Shows)

February – March 2013: TRANSFORMATION: NORTHWEST PHILADELPHIA – A Group Art Exhibit, Flying Kite, Philadelphia, PA.

January – March 2013: CREATE CHAOS, Permanent Wave Philly, Philadelphia, PA.

January – February 2013: PORTRAITS OF BREWERYTOWN*, Next City (formerly Next American City), Philadelphia, PA.

December, 2012: WINTER WONDERLAND WEEKEND, Project Greenville, Jersey City, NJ. (Show was part of the December Jersey City “JC” Friday lineup of holiday events)

October 26, 2012: “THERE’S NO RACISM IN AMERICA: NOW WHAT??”, iMPeRFeCT Gallery, Philadelphia, PA. (One day event in conjunction with the group show where I curated a performance of music and poetry by local artists Terri “Nightowl” Lyons and Osiris Wildfire)

October – November 2012: THERE’S NO RACISM IN AMERICA, iMPeRFeCT Gallery, Philadelphia, PA.

September 21, 2012: GERMANTOWN PARK(ing) DAY POP-UP STREET GALLERY AND ARTIST SHOWCASE. 115 West Chelten, Philadelphia, PA.

September – October 2012: OLD FRIENDS, NEW FRIENDS, FULL CIRCLE, iMPeRFeCT Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, Invitational.

September – October 2012: IT’S RAINING CATS AND DOGS: A COLLECTION OF ANIMAL PAW-TRAITS, Project Greenville, Jersey City, NJ, Invitational. (Show was part of the 22nd annual Jersey City Artists’ Studio Tour)

August 25, 2012: BIG ART SHOW, Pterodactyl Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA.

May – June 2012: CREATIVE SALUTE TO MOMS AND DADS, Project Greenville, Jersey City, NJ, Invitational.

May – June 2011: IMAGES OF JERSEY CITY, Project Greenville, Jersey City, NJ. Invitational.

PRESS

February 11, 2013: ”Tieshka Smith’s Photographs – A Celebration of Brewerytown.” Adriana Rabinovitch for theartblog.org (accessed February 11, 2013 at http://www.theartblog.org/2013/02/tieshka-smiths-photographs-a-celebration-of-brewerytown/)

January 29, 2013: ”On the Ground: Celebrating Our Germantown Storefront with An Art Show and Reception”, Lee Stabert for Flying Kite Media (accessed January 30, 2013 at http://www.flyingkitemedia.com/features/onthegroundgermantownartshow012913.aspx)

January 24, 2013: ”Changes at Next American City.” Brewerytown Living (accessed January 24, 2013 at http://www.brewerytownliving.com/2013/01/24/changes-at-next-american-city/#)

January 14, 2013: ”New Exhibit Tells Story of Brewerytown Community,” Cherri Gregg for CBS Philly, Philadelphia, PA (accessed January 14, 2013 at http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2013/01/14/new-exhibit-tells-story-of-brewerytown-community/)

January 14, 2013: ”In Brewerytown, Striving to See the Whole Picture,” Bruce Walsh for Metro Philly, Philadelphia, PA (accessed January 14, 2013 at http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/local/article/1159662–in-brewerytown-striving-to-see-the-whole-picture)

January 4, 2013: ”INTERVIEW: Portraits of Brewerytown,” Matt Bevilacqua for Next City, Philadelphia, PA (accessed January 14, 2013 at http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/portraits-of-brewerytown)

September 24, 2012: “Northwest Soapbox 018: PARK(ing) Day in Germantown,” G-Town Radio, Philadelphia, PA

September 23, 2012: “Germantown’s PARK(ing) Day features artistic energy, civic collaboration,” Alaina Mabaso for NewsWorks, Philadelphia, PA (accessed February 11, 2013 at http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local//germantownwest-oak-lane/44623-parking-day)

September 17, 2012: “ Six parking spots in Germantown will be transformed into works of art,” Alaina Mabaso for NewsWorks, Philadelphia, PA. (accessed February 11, 2013 at http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local//germantownwest-oak-lane/44355-parking-day-in-germantown)

September 18, 2012: “Morning Feed: PARK(ing) Day Interview with street photographer Tieshka Smith and Germantown United CDC’s Andy Trackman!” Ed Feldman for G-Town Radio, Philadelphia, PA.

June 25, 2012: “Photo Walk and abandoned-building project focus of Germantown Artists Roundtable meeting,” Alaina Mabaso for NewsWorks, Philadelphia, PA.( accessed February 11, 2013 at http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local//germantown-feature/40414-germantown-artists-roundtable)

February 28, 2012: “Tieshka Smith Captures the Truth”, Tamara Anderson, Philadelphia Education Examiner (February 28, 2012), Philadelphia, PA. (accessed February 11, 2013 at http://www.examiner.com/article/tieshka-smith-captures-the-truth)

June 1, 2011: Photo: “You Can Learn (How to Live and Love Together),” print edition of Philadelphia City Paper, Philadelphia, PA.

May, 2011: Photo: “Dog Loves That Human,” (in conjunction with Images of Jersey City group exhibit), print edition of Jersey Journal, Jersey City, NJ.

May, 2011: ”Project Greenville Presents ‘Images of Jersey City’ Group Exhibit,” (accessed February 11, 2013 at http://photos.nj.com/jersey-journal/2011/05/project_greenville_presents_im_1.html)

May 13, 2011: ”Images of Jersey City Group Photo Exhibit Shows City From All Angles,” Summer Dawn Hortillosa for the Jersey Journal.(accessed February 11, 2013 at http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2011/05/images_of_jersey_city_group_ph.html)

Commissions, Awards and Honors

October – December 2012: Portraits of Brewerytown, Storefront for Urban Innovation, Sponsor: Next City (formerly Next American City), Philadelphia, PA.

May, 2012: Micrograntee, Small Stake II, for Portraits of Philadelphia presentation, Philadelphia, PA.

May, 2011: Honorable Mention, Neighborhood Parks category, IMAGES OF JERSEY CITY exhibition, Project Greenville, Jersey City, NJ. Invitational.