Mado Smith
STICKNSLAP 2026 ARTIST
Mado Smith is an artist, musician, illustrator, and writer whose work is rooted in curiosity, symbolism, and a deep connection to the natural world. Drawing inspiration from people, places, history, and the overlooked details of everyday life, he creates work that feels both familiar and mysterious—like something rediscovered rather than newly made. His creative practice moves freely between painting, illustration, music, installation, and storytelling. Across each medium, Mado explores the space between nature and the human-made, past and present, and what we remember and what gets forgotten. Raw textures, bold imagery, and recurring symbols come together to create pieces that invite viewers to look closer and find their own meaning within them. Mado is also a co-founder of Circle Square Triangle Collective, an artist-led group focused on creating opportunities, education, and community through local art. His work has been featured in projects including the Sam Flax Wall Project, and in 2025 he received the United City Arts Grant in support of his creative practice. Much of his inspiration comes from the landscapes, ecosystems, folk traditions, and layered histories of the Southeast. Whether through an image, an object, a song, or an environment, Mado’s work is ultimately about discovery creating connections between what surrounds us, what came before us, and the stories we continue to carry forward.