SELECTED COLLECTIONS
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Metropolitan Museum of Art
Pew Charitable Trusts
Lancaster Museum of Art
Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance
Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts
Carrie Nicholson, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Visa Corporation
Capital One Financial Services
Brownstein Hyatt Farber
Post & Schell
Novartis Corporation
Berner, Klaw & Watson
Drueding Center
Valley Youth House
Camphill Village Kimberton
Pennswood Village Retirement Community
Fred’s Footsteps
Peter’s Place
Penn Medicine Hospice
Abramson Cancer Center, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice
University of Pennsylvania Carey School of Law
Penn Medicine Department of OB/GYN Helen O. Dickens Center for Women
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
​
2020
We Have Not Left You, Paintings & Poetry of Tremain Smith, Boston Street Gallery, Philadelphia, PA.
2019
Waxing Geometric, Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, Lancaster Avenue Hub, Philadelphia, PA.
Pam Farrell & Tremain Smith, JB Kline Project Space, Lambertville, NJ.
The Art of Grief and What Follows, Old City Jewish Arts Center, Philadelphia, PA.
2018
Pamela Phillips & Tremain Smith, Y:Art, Baltimore, MD.
2016
The Art of Grief, Chestnut Hill Arts Festival with Penn Wissahickon Hospice
Beauty as Inspiration, Sarah Tremain & Tremain Smith, Philadelphia Cathedral, Philadelphia, PA.
Pennswood Art Gallery, Newtown, PA.
Freeman’s Auction House, Wayne, PA.
2015
Wellspring Gallery, Camphill Village Kimberton Hills, Kimberton, PA.
2014
Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Allyn Gallup Contemporary Art, Sarasota, FL.
2013
Darnell Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM.
2012
Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA.
2010
Paia Contemporary Gallery, Maui, Hawaii.
2009
Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA.
Morpeth Gallery, Hopewell, NJ.
2008
Melanee Cooper Gallery, Chicago, IL.
Lawrence Gallery, Rosemont College, Rosemont, PA.
2006
Allyn Gallup Contemporary Art, Sarasota, FL.
Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA.
Melanee Cooper Gallery, Chicago, IL.
2005
Cervini Haas Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ.
Lowe Gallery, Santa Monica, CA.
Allyn Gallup Contemporary Art, Sarasota, FL.
2004
Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, Wilmington, DE.
2003
Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA.
Cervini Haas Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ.
Melanee Cooper Gallery, Chicago, IL.
2002
Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, PA.
Turtle Gallery, Deer Isle, ME.
Melanee Cooper Gallery, Chicago, IL.
2001
Esther M. Klein Gallery, Philadelphia, PA.
Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA.
Art Mecca, Chicago, IL.
2000
Phoenix Gallery, New York, NY.
Right Brain Art Gallery, Atlanta, GA.
1999
Philadelphia Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA.
1998
Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, Wilmington, DE.
Ritual Space, University City Arts League, Philadelphia, PA.
1994
What is Inside, West Philadelphia Community Gallery, Philadelphia, PA.
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
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2022
Destruction & Rebuilding, Old City Jewish Arts Center, Philadelphia, PA.
2021
The Shape of Tomorrow, Park Towne Place, Philadelphia, PA.
2019
The Miniature Exhibit, Y:Art, Baltimore, MD.
The Art of Healing, Samaritan Center Gallery, Voorhees, NJ.
Catalyst, The Yard, Philadelphia, PA.
2018
Ley Lines, Inliquid Rittenhouse, Philadelphia, PA.
Into the Light, Benefit for Philadelphia Rail Park, curated by Bridgette Mayer Gallery.
2017
East Market Exhibit, Inliquid, Philadelphia, PA.
Art for Land’s Sake, Owings Mills, MD.
2016
Contemporary Expressions, Freeman’s Auction House, Wayne, PA.
Alumni Exhibit, Burrison Art Gallery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
2015
The Freedom Gallery for Girls, The New School, NY, NY.
Andy Moerlein, Tremain Smith & Megan Hinton, The Gallery at Castle Hill, Truro, MA.
2014
Art, Alibi & Anonymous We, Rosenfeld Gallery, travelled to City Hall, Philadelphia, PA.
2013
A Random Walk, Rowan University Art Gallery, Glassboro, NJ.
Attraction to Abstraction, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA.
2012
Four Seasons Hotel, Philadelphia, PA.
Abstraction/Diversity, Allyn Gallup Contemporary Art, Sarasota, FL.
The Art of Encaustic, Painting with Wax, Marietta Art House, Marietta, PA.
Art is Ageless, The Center for Emerging Visual Artists, Philadelphia, PA.
West Philly Abstraction, University City Arts League, Philadelphia, PA.
2011
Small Works Show, Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA.
Encaustic with a Textile Sensibility, KimballArt Center, Park City, UT.
Abstractions, Allyn Gallup Contemporary Art, Sarasota, FL.
Fourth Wall Arts Salon, The Bellevue, Philadelphia, PA.
2010
Art in the Open Philadelphia, Schuylkill River Bank, Philadelphia, PA.
Encaustic: Beeswax & Pigment, The Art Trust, West Chester, PA.
Philadelphia Painters, The Painting Center, New York, NY.
2009
Ten Year Retrospective, Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, Harrisburg, PA.
20th International Invitational Salon of Small Works, New Arts Program, Kutztown, PA.
Art is Ageless, The Center for Emerging Visual Artists, Philadelphia, PA.
Hidden Gems of West Philadelphia – Works on Paper from the Collection of Sylvia Egnal, University City Arts League, Philadelphia, PA.
Encaustic Invitational, Conrad Wilde Gallery, Tucson, AZ.
Seeing Red, Somerhill Gallery, Durham, NC.
2008
Abstraction – New and Review, Allyn Gallop Contemporary Art, Sarasota, Florida.
200º Featuring Encaustic Artists: Kim Bernard, Sara Crisp, William Thomson & Tremain Smith,
Lamont Gallery, Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH.
Into Intuition: Towards a Redefinition, University Galleries at Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD.
2007
Encaustic Works 2007, Gallery at R&F and Watermark/Cargo Gallery, Kingston, NY.
Shades of White, Somerhill Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC.
Surface & Beyond, Morpeth Gallery, Hopewell, NJ.
2006
Order(ed), Gallery Siano, Philadelphia, PA.
Bridge Art Fair Miami, Miami, FL.
ArtSpace/Virginia Miller Galleries, Coral Gables, FL.
Ancestors: In Search of Source, Lowe Gallery, Santa Monica, LA.
2005
The Urban Canvas, Gallery Siano, Philadelphia, PA.
Art Miami, represented by the Lowe Gallery, Atlanta, GA.
Oil and Wax, Wallingford Arts Center, Wallingford, PA.
2004
Spiritual Abstractions, Segalas Gallery, Bernardsville, NJ.
Saving Philadelphia – The Art of the Dumpster Divers, Sedgwick Cultural Center, Philadelphia, PA.
Inner Circles, Sharadin Art Gallery, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Kutztown, PA.
Traveled to Susquehanna Art Museum, Harrisburg, PA.
2003
International Biennale of Contemporary Art, Florence, Italy.
The Future in Wax, The Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, Harrisburg, PA.
Africanisms Unmasked, The Painted Bride, Philadelphia, PA.
2002
The African Spirit in Contemporary Art, Susquehanna Art Museum, Harrisburg, PA.
Unforgettable, Berlin Kunstproject, Berlin, Germany.
Mnemonic: A 9/11 Memorial Exhibition, Atrium Gallery, Long Island City, NY.
Pigment & Wax: Art of Encaustic Painting, Sharon Arts Center, Peterborough, NH.
USArtists American Fine Art Show, 33rd Street Armory, Philadelphia, PA.
Soho-Myriad, Atlanta, GA.
2000
SOFA CHICAGO, Chicago, IL.
Burrison Gallery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
1999
Beginnings & Endings, Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, Wilmington, DE.
Side by Side Invitational, Highwire Gallery, Philadelphia, PA.
Invitational Salon Exhibition of Small Works, New Arts Program, Kutztown, PA.
1998
Leaps of Faith: The Language of Symbols, Borowsky Gallery, Philadelphia, PA.
Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA.
1997
Pushing the Limit, Artforms, Philadelphia, PA
Art and Religion: The Many Faces of Faith, Villanova University Art Gallery, Villanova, PA.
1996
Abstraction, DOSHI Center for Contemporary Art, Harrisburg, PA.
Two Up, Philadelphia Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA.
GRANTS, RESIDENCIES + TEACHING
​
Instructor, Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill, Truro, MA, 2023.
Illuminate the Arts Individual Artist Grant, Philadelphia, PA, 2022.
Instructor, Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC, Fall, 2022.
Illuminate the Arts Individual Artist Grant, Philadelphia, PA, 2021.
Teaching Artist, Center for Emerging Visual Artists Hand-in-Hand Community Arts Program, Philadelphia, PA, 2017.
Instructor, Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC, Spring 2015.
Instructor, Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill, Truro, MA, 2014 & 2015.
Artist-in-Residence, Penn Alexander School, Philadelphia, PA, 2010-15.
Visiting Artist, R&F Handmade Paints, Kingston, NY, 2014.
Panelist, The Roots of Contemporary Encaustic, 8th International Encaustic Conference, Provincetown, MA, 2014.
Teaching Artist-in-Residence, Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, Philadelphia, PA, 2009 -14.
Painting Instructor, Main Line Art Center, Haverford, PA, 2013-14.
Artist-in-Residence, Free Library of Philadelphia, Cobbs Creek Branch & Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership, Philadelphia, PA, 2011, 2012 and 2014.
Artist-in-Residence. Philadelphia Senior Center, Fall 2013.
Artist-in-Residence, Northeast High School, Philadelphia, PA, Spring 2011-Spring 2013.
Teaching Artist, Center for Emerging Visual Artists Hand-in-Hand Community Arts Program, Philadelphia, PA, 2009-2013.
New Courtland Artist Fellowship, Philadelphia, PA, 2008, 2011 & 2013.
Encaustic Painting Instructor, University of the Arts Continuing Studies, Philadelphia, PA, Spring 2012.
Art Instructor, Community Arts Program, Penn Alexander School, Philadelphia, PA, 2007-09.
Juror, Percent for Art Permanent Public Art Commission, SEPTA Art in Transit Program, Philadelphia, PA, 2008.
Instructor, Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC, Summer 2006.
Art Teacher: Visual Artists of the Harlem Renaissance, Jubilee School, Philadelphia, PA, 2002-04.
Artist-in-Residence, McColl Center for Visual Arts, Charlotte, NC, Fall 2004.
Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Individual Artist Special Opportunity Stipend, 2003-04.
Art Futures Artist Residency, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA, Winter 2003.
Artist-in-Residence, Westtown School, Westtown, Pennsylvania, Spring 2002.
Leeway Foundation Window of Opportunity Grant, 2000.
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
​
Sahiti Bonam, Waxing Geometric: Contemporary Islamic and Encaustic Paintings, MAYDAN, February 29, 2020.
Pamela J. Forsythe, Old City Jewish Art Center presents Tremain Smith’s ‘The Art of Grief and What Follows’ The art of healing, BROAD STREET REVIEW, May 20, 2019
Haywood Brewster, Tremain Smith’s art returning to Old City at the Old City Jewish Art Center Exhibit, UCREVIEW, May 8, 2019.
Selah Maya Zighelboim, The Art of Grief and What Follows at OCJAC Explores Grief Through Abstract Painting,
THE JEWISH EXPONENT, May 9, 2019
Heshimu Jaramogi, Tremain Smith’s Poetry and Art on Exhibit at Old City Jewish Art Center, THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADER, May 11-25, 2019
The Art of Grief: Transforming Loss into Legacy, Penn Wissahickon Hospice Newsletter, December, 2016.
Anne Lee & E. Ashley Rooney, Encaustic Art in the Twenty-First Century, Schiffer Publishing, 2016.
Deborah Winiarski, ProWax Journal, August to October 2015.
Anne Fabbri, Paul Behnke and Tremain Smith at Rosenfeld Gallery, BROAD STREET REVIEW, September 17, 2012.
Libby Rosof, West Philadelphia looking is good, ARTBLOG, March 22, 2012.
Courtney Sexton, Curator: Pop-up art, palpable connections and papermade fabulousness, PHILADELPHIA CITY PAPER, March 9, 2012.
West Philly Abstraction at the University Arts League, THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADER, February 12-March 9, 2012.
B. Boyd, Resident Artist Tremain Smith: Grids upon Grids Give Way to Spiritual Mystery, BALTIMORE FISHBOWL, January 6, 2012.
Catherine Nash, Authentic Voices: Contemporary Paper and Encaustic, Tucson, AZ, 2012.
Studio Visit Volume 14, Open Studio Press, Boston, MA, 2011.
A N’hood Artist Opens Her Doors, THE WESTSIDE WEEKLY, September 24-30, 2010.
Visit Tremain Smith’s Studio, THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADER, September 24-October 7, 2010.
Sally Friedman, Outsider Art, THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, June 6, 2010.
Sam Kaplan, Open Wide, PHILADELPHIA CITY PAPER, June 1, 2010.
J. Grimal, Renowned Art Exhibit Opens at Intercontinental O’Hare Hotel, TRIBLOCAL, November 3, 2009.
Steven Alexander Blog, Pamela Farrell and Tremain Smith at Ruth Morpeth, April 19, 2009.
Ilene Dube, Seductive Skin, Paintings made with Beeswax Evoke Religious Rituals and Layers of Memory, TIMEOFF, PRINCETON PACKET, March 27, 2009.
Kevin Costello, Finding Solace in Abstracts, HERALD-TRIBUNE, August 7, 2008
Ursula Ehrhardt, Philadelphia Artists Display Works in ‘Into Intuition’, THE DAILY TIMES, February 17, 2008.
Peter Occhiogrosso, Art & About, HUDSON RIVER MUSEUM & GALLERY GUIDE, Fall 2006.
Edith Newhall, Creative Styles of Their Own, THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, May 26, 2006.
Libby Rosof, Order(ed), ARTBLOG, May 18, 2006.
Roberta Fallon, Beauty, Order and Individuality, catalogue essay for the exhibition Order(ed), May 2006.
Alan Atner, THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE, April 7, 2006.
Peter Frank, Gail Foster, Thomas Swanston, Tremain Smith, LA WEEKLY, October 21, 2005.
Lori Hill, First Friday Focus, PHILADELPHIA CITY PAPER, October 6-12, 2005.
Mark Ormond, Allyn Gallup presents paintings of Grabowsky, Moment and Smith, PELICAN PRESS, June 23, 2005.
Victoria Donahoe, Wallingford, THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, May 15, 2005.
Rick Sablove, Susquehanna Art Museum Exhibits 360 Degrees of Unity, CENTRAL ALTERNATIVE, September 2004.
Zachary Lewis, Art to Bring You Full Circle (Back Again), THE PATRIOT-NEWS, July 18, 2004.
Geoff Gehman, Inner Circles Exhibit Stretches and Burns, THE MORNING CALL, February 2004.
Ellen Slupe, Inside Pennsylvania, ART MATTERS, September 2003.
Edward Sozanski, Looking to Africa, THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, March 7, 2003.
Victoria Donohoe, THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, February 16, 2003.
Ellen Slupe, Ritual Power in Bold Form, ART MATTERS, February 2003.
Karen Quinones Miller, Of Wax and Social Commitment, ART MATTERS, October 2002.
Susan Lindt, Smith’s Work Rewards Close Inspection, INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL, September 20, 2002.
Jamie Malernee, A Spiritual Experience, SOUTH FLORIDA SUN- SENTINEL, January 2002.
Joanne Mattera, The Art of Encaustic Painting Contemporary Expressions in the Ancient Medium
of Pigmented Wax, Watson-Guptill, 2001.
R.B. Straus, More Changes Than the Seasons, ART MATTERS, September 2001.
New American Paintings, Volume 21, The Open Studio Press, 1999.
Gerard Brown, You Have to Be There, PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY, May 1999.
Edward Sozanski, Roots, THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, April 30, 1999.
Patricia Phillips, Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts Visiting Critic 1998, November 1998.
Astrid Bowlby, Too Much of a Good Thing, PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY, August 12, 1998.
Gerard Brown, Ritual Reminders, THE PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY, July 15, 1998.
EDUCATION
​
2009-11 University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA, Teaching Artist Certificate Program.
1991-94 Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
1993 Tyler School of Art, Elkins Park, PA
1985 University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, Bachelor of Arts
1980-81 Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA