Meet Zachary Smith

Zachary Smith is a painter and tattoo artist featured in Abstract PXV, a group show on display at Art Work Gallery for December 2023 and January 2024.

Artist Biography

I was born in Baltimore Maryland and spent my childhood in rural south central Pennsylvania. I was raised surrounded by art as my mother is a graphic/fine artist and my father is a professional musician. They always encouraged my artistic endeavors from doodling in class to even making graffiti my first job. I started making more friends in artistic and alternative crowds and started skateboarding which is where I started to see tattoos as artistic expression. At the age of 13, I told my parents I wanted to be a tattoo artist when I grew up. While hesitant, they stood beside me and helped me make my dreams a reality.

After graduating high school I learned how to tattoo in upstate New York and Hua-Hin Thailand. I then took a leap of faith and opened a private tattoo studio in Glen Rock Pennsylvania and worked there for 6 years during which I met and married my wife. Together we have traveled nationally and internationally with my tattooing. As we grew together we realized that we needed to find a community we could continue to grow with. We always loved the Philadelphia area and stumbled upon Phoenixville two years ago and it felt like the puzzle pieces fell into place. Here we have been able to put down roots, make friends, create art, and have a blast doing it. We took a big chance moving in the middle of a pandemic but I was given the incredible opportunity to work alongside other amazing artists at White Oak Tattoo co in West Chester PA.

Artist Statement

My work is based on the concept of balance between control and chaos. I believe that art should be an expression of one’s inner self. My paintings and tattoos are not just about beauty, but also raw emotion. Human emotion is so visceral, strong, delicate, ugly, and so much more. I hope to be able to interpret that for my clients and those who view my art.