Kamarla Smith
Instagram: zeporahdesigns
Birmingham
Artist Biography
I am a Birmingham-based multidisciplinary artist with a background in Art and Design. I enjoy working across different materials and processes, developing ideas from initial sketches into finished pieces.
I draw inspiration from nature, cultural influences and the world around me. I am particularly interested in how these influences can come together and how everyday materials can be transformed to create something unexpected.
My approach to making is playful and experimental. I enjoy testing possibilities, trying things in different ways and allowing the process to shape the direction of a piece. My own experiences and interests also play an important role in the ideas I develop.
I am continuing to build my creative practice and develop my own visual voice. I enjoy learning through making, starting with an idea or sketch and thinking through the materials, techniques and processes that could bring it to life.
About the artwork
Combs & Culture
The artwork explores identity and culture through hair. Growing up with a Black British Caribbean background, hair has been central to my identity and self-expression. Recently, I have become increasingly interested in the everyday objects and processes involved in creating and styling hair.
The pieces include large combs made from cardboard, a book of comb designs and hairstyles made from cardboard, string, wool and oil pastels, alongside a framed selection of cardboard combs.
By using familiar materials, I explore the stories, memories and cultural experiences connected to hair. The combs represent both the process of styling and the confidence, self-expression and identity tied to how we wear our hair.
This work is about celebrating identity through our hair and the tools we use, embracing who you are and expressing it in a fun and engaging way.