Avin HannahSmith
Chicago, IL
Avinarts2@gmail.com
www.avinarts.space
Education
2025 MFA. Studio Art. Columbia College Chicago. Chicago, IL.
2017 BFA. Painting. Kent State University. Kent, OH.
Solo Exhibitions
2023 What If We Had That Too?, a solo exhibition. Lubeznik Center of the Arts. Michigan City, IN.
2017 AfroPragmatic, a solo exhibition. Center for the Visual Arts-main gallery, Kent State University. Kent, OH.
2017 Just to Think it Out, a solo exhibition. The Hive Mind. Akron, OH.
2016 The Years, a solo exhibition. Gallery 425. Kent, OH.
Group Exhibitions
2025 Many Times. Curators, Denissa Young and Madison Mae Parker. Yes Project Space. Chicago, IL.
2025 Afrofuturist Weekend Exhibition. Elastic Arts. Chicago, IL.
2025 Faculty Biennial 2025. Curator, Mark Rospenda. Art Gallery. Indiana University South Bend. South Bend, IN.
2025 Unity. Curators, Mark Porter and Yager Madison. Hokin Gallery. Columbia College Chicago. Chicago, IL.
2025 MFA Thesis Exhibition. Curator, Jonathon Castillo. Glass Curtain Gallery. Columbia College Chicago. Chicago, IL.
2024 Artists Against Oppression. Curator, Students for Justice in Palestine - Muslim Students Association. Columbia College Chicago. Chicago, IL.
2023 Members Exhibition, Curator, Chesterton Art Center. Chesterton, IN.
2023 In Progress: Works by MFA Candidates. Curator, Naeemeh Naeeimai. Hokin Gallery. Columbia College Chicago. Chicago, IL.
2023 Works In Progress. Curator, Brandon Johnson. Center For Visual and Performing Arts. South Shore Arts. Main Gallery. Munster, IN.
2017 New Directions. Harris Stanton Gallery. Cleveland, OH.
2017 Emerging Artist Series. Creative Arts Center - campus library, Cuyahoga Community College. Parma, OH.
2017 GAR Foundation Show, Akron, OH.
2016 Drawing V show. Curator, Darice Polo. Center for the Visual Arts - foundation hallway, Kent State University. Kent, OH.
2016 The Weird Era Continued. Curator, KSU Art Club. Gallery 425. Kent, OH.
2015 Throwdown Showdown. Curator, KSU Art Club. Gallery 425. Kent OH.
2015 Disparate. Curator, KSU Art Club. Gallery 425. Kent, OH.
2013 POP! Passion Over Precision. Curator, KSU Art Club. Gallery 425. Kent, OH.
Teaching
2025 Adjunct Faculty. Department of Education and Art. Indiana University South Bend. South Bend, IN. 2025 Fall Session - Computer Art and Design I, Graphic Design I
2025 Graduate Student Instructor. Department of Art and Design. Columbia College Chicago. Chicago, IL. 2025 Spring Session – Drawing 1. 2024 Spring Session – Drawing 1
2024 Teaching Assistant. Department of Art and Design. Columbia College Chicago. Chicago, IL. Fall Session. Foundation Studio
2022 Teaching Artist. South Shore Arts. Center For Visual and Performing Arts. Munster, IN. 2022 Fall Session – Multi-Level Watercolor. 2022 Summer Session – The Spirit of Drawing the Figure, Plein-Air Watercolor for Teens. 2023 Winter Session – Hammond Scholarship Program
Scholarship
2025 Nomination for Ground Floor Exhibition. Hyde Park Art Center. Chicago, IL.
2024 Nomination for Ox Bow School of Art: Nick Fagan and Mark Schentzel. Saugatuck, MI.
2023 Graduate Award II. Columbia College Chicago. Chicago, IL.
2016 Blossom Drawing/Painting Intensive Summer Program. Kent State University. Kent, OH. Visiting artists: Steve Roden and Angela Dufresne. 2024
Publications and Presentations
2025 Gemini Travels Remix. Collaborative performance with artist Norman W. Long. Dark Matter Residency. Elastic Arts. Chicago, IL.
2025 Gemini Travels. Afrofuturist Weekend. Dark Matter Residency. The Blk. Room. Chicago, IL.
2025 Aiello, Michelle. “MFA Candidate Avin HannahSmith awarded 2025 Dark Matter Residency”. Columbia Feature. Columbia College Chicago. https://www.colum.edu/news-and-events/announcements/2025/mfa-candidate-avin-hannahsmith-awarded-2025-dark-matter-residency. Chicago, IL. 18 June 2025.
2024 Thompson, Emily. “Meet Avin HannahSmith.” CanvasRebel. https://canvasrebel.com/meet-avin-hannahsmith/. Los Angeles, CA. 12 September 2024.
2024. Afro-Alien Universe. Spring Session. Painting 1. Instructor Biddy Tran.
2024 Taylor, Jeremiah. “Meet Avin HannahSmith: Multidisciplinary Artist.” ShoutOut Michigan. https://shoutoutmichigan.com/meet-avin-hannahsmith-multidisciplinary-artist/. Los Angeles, CA. 10 April 2024.
2023 Scribble and Planar Analysis lesson. Drawing 1. Instructor Niki Nolin. Fall Session. Columbia College Chicago. Chicago, IL.
2023 Chung, Jee Hee and Bubble Messages. “Avin HannahSmith Interview”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoL4vLoLd-Q. Chicago, IL. 1 November 2023.
2023 Afro-Alien Universe with Avin HannahSmith. Art in Focus Feature. South Shore Arts, Munster, IN. Hosted by Gallery Coordinator of South Shore Arts, Brandon Johnson
2023 DeNucci, Patti and HannahSmith, Avin. Interview by Larry Brechner and Esther Golden. 00:33:17 – 00:56:56. https://www.brech.com/aota/shows/AOTA-230303.mp3. Munster, IN. 3 March 2023.
2023 Donavan Barrier. “Avin HannahSmith Exhibit Looks at Possibilities for Those Who Haven’t Had Them” La Porte County Herald-Dispatch. Michigan City, IN. 3 February 2023.
2023 What If We Had That Too? Artist Talk. a solo exhibition. Lubeznik Center For the Arts. Michigan City, IN. Discussion centered around the what-Ifs of fair resource distribution in currently underserved communities with Executive Director of Lubeznik Center for the Arts, Janet Bloch
2023 Staff Reports. “’What If We Had That Too?’ Premiers at Lubeznik Center for Feb. 3 First Friday Event” La Porte County Herald-Dispatch. Michigan city, IN. 20 January 2023
Related Professional Career
2025 Performance artist. “The Juju Exchange: Opening Set by Dark Matter Alumni Amyna Love”. Dark Matter Residency. Elastic Arts. South Merrill Community Garden. Chicago, IL.
2025 Installation and performance artist. “Indigo at the Garden with interactive art installation by Avin HannahSmith”. Dark Matter Residency. Elastic Arts. Oakland Museum & Garden. Chicago, IL.
2024 Studio Assistant. Artist Robert Lipton. Chicago, IL.
2024 Gallery Assistant. 2024 MFA Thesis Show. Columbia College Chicago. Chicago, IL.
2023 Gallery Assistant. Art and Design Faculty and Graduate Show. Hokin Gallery. Columbia College Chicago Chicago, IL.
2022 Administrative Coordinator. South Shore Arts. Center For Visual & Performing Arts. Munster, IN.
2022 Regional Arts Coordinator. South Shore Arts. Center For Visual & Performing Arts. Munster, IN.
2019 Photographer. Chicago Marathon series. Marathonfoto. Chicago, IL.
2018 Assistant Art Handler. High Art NYC. Chelsea, NY.
2017 Art Handler. Martin Lawrence Galleries. Schaumburg, IL.
2017 Gallery Assistant. School of Art Galleries. Kent State University. Kent, OH.
2015 Curator. Harold Kitner. Crawford Gallery. Kent State University. Kent, OH.
2014 Co-curator with KSU Art Club. The Fear Show. Gallery 425. Kent, OH.
Accolades
2025 Resident. Dark Matter Residency. Elastic Arts. Chicago, IL.
2022 Fellow. Grassroots Collaborative Fellowship. Action Now. Chicago, IL.
Extracurricular Activities
2025 Board Member. PullmanArts + the Block House gallery. Chicago, IL.
2025 Committee member. Professional Practices Committee. College Arts Association. New York City, NY.
2024 Vendor. South Shore Arts Makers Market. Munster, IN.
2023 Vendor. Sweet Home South Chicago, Thrift and Thrive Series. Chicago, IL.
2015 Club Member. KSU Art Club. Kent, OH.
Authorizations
2023 Laser Cutting
2023 3D printing
2023 Light metals
2016 Adobe Creative Suite
2015 Woodworking
2015 Intaglio
2015 Lithography