Meet Smita Sen | Artist & Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Smita Sen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Smita, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open.” — Martha Graham

I love this quote. It is a reminder that what is within you is always meant to be expressed in a way that is uniquely yours. I give this quote to my students at the end of every semester. Whether you consider yourself an artist or not, this quote gives you permission to trust the integrity of your creative voice.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Becoming an artist was less of a choice and more of an unrelenting need to create. Every time I needed to express the complicated and disquiet parts of myself, art found me and saved me. Though I began my artistic training at a young age as a dancer, my identity as a professional artist only solidified when I was a student pursuing the arts in New York City. There, I had mentors and a community that pushed me to question what art really is and why we make it. After graduating, I was working as an interaction designer and then as an art, design, and technology teacher. My life at the workplace allowed me to reflect on my art practice in a way that was slow, deliberate, and true to who I am. I could turn inwards, reflect, and share my art practice with those close to me, with those in my community, and with those in the world beyond. Art became a solace for all of us. Over the years, being a professional artist has given me the chance to understand what draws people to art and creativity.I have had the privilege of learning the ways in which art can transform each and every one of us. It has made me sensitive to what we consider emotionally moving or thought-provoking. It has not been easy, and I still have a long way to go, but I am grateful for this journey and everything it has taught me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Art & The Subtropics: Essential Places in Miami

Artist Studios to Visit
– Bakehouse Art Complex
– Oolite Arts

For Audiophiles
– Miami Sound Bar
– Dante’s Hi-Fi
– ZeyZey
– “Thank You! It’s Friday” at Red Rooster Overtown

Museum Crawl
– Perez Art Museum Miami: Thursdays at PAMM
– Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami: Jazz at MoCA
– The Frost Museum: Tertulia Nights
– Institute of Contemporary Art Miami: Family Sundays at ICA Miami

Wine & Dine
– LungYai Thai Tapas
– Log Restaurant Wynwood
– Sabor a Perú
– La Mar by Gastón Acurio

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I dedicate my Shoutout to everyone in my community that has supported me — from my family to my collaborators, my colleagues, and my students. Thank you for always seeing the best in me and in my work.

Website: www.smitaksen.com

Instagram: @smitatims

Image Credits
Headshot credit: Pedro Wazzan Brooklyn Public Library credit: Gregg Richards