Caitlyn lives and works on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation.

She pays her respects to elders past, present and emerging. Always was, always will be, Aboriginal Land.

Caitlyn Smith is a multi-disciplinary artist utilising and exploring how to bring materiality to the ephemeral. That is the recollection of the fragments from her memory; her family's collective remembering and the cultural intersection of her Australian-Malaysian heritage. Based in Naarm, she utilizes photography and painting based processes to deconstruct and reconstruct as an act of reflective catharsis. 

Caitlyn finds comfort in the mundanity of familiar settings, with an appreciation for food and unique cultural or familial traditions. Shaping her identity and its expression, family and culture bleeds into her work through appreciation and conflict. The values, expectations and standards lingering softly in its creation. An expression of love and wholeheartedness, her sensitive works display intimate connections of finding oneself through the weight of life and the emotional resonance of family.

old pixilated pointer cursor, enlarged
Caitlyn Smith Headshot taken on an old Photobooth strip
illustrated yellow computer file folders seen on desktop computers

CV:

Lives and works in Naarm (Melbourne), VIC

Selected Exhibitions

2024 - Revel & Reveal (Graduate Exhibition), RMIT Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts

2024 - Exhibition for Ants 2.0 (group show), Unassigned Gallery, VIC

2023 - Hillvale Photo Trophy (group show), Hillvale Gallery, VIC

Volunteer Work

2024 - Workshop Facilitator, Toning at Home - Cyanotype Masterclass, Museum of Australian Photography, Jess Schwientek and Ruby Armstrong-Porter

2024 - Seventh Gallery, Invigilator

Design/Marketing Experience

2024 - Revel & Reveal Graduate Exhibition Poster, Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts - in collaboration with Ruby Armstrong-Porter, Maya Kirk and Danni Pleming

2024 - Auction Poster, Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts - in collaboration with Danni Pleming and Katarina Vukmirovic

2024 - Marketing and Communications Committee member - Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts

Collections

Various private collections

Education

2024 - Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts, RMIT University (VE)

2023 - Diploma of Visual Arts, RMIT University (VE)

illustrated yellow computer file folders seen on desktop computers
an illustration of my cat Boo in a cape with a pointy hat - synonymous with the character Wirt from Over The Garden Wall - with a text box asking 'wanna see something cute?'. She is also surrounded by a bunch of clovers with a halftone floor/shadow
hand writing quoting 'click me' to prompt viewers to click the image of Boo

  • Maya Kirk, Naarm

    Caitlyn Smith is a multidisciplinary artist working across photographic, printed and drawn media. Her work is expansive, often merging mediums and processes to develop unique and striking images. Working from found images and iconographic symbols, Caitlyn’s practice evokes a sense of emotionality and nostalgia. Her work transports the viewer into a state of dreamy contemplation.

  • Levi Bradley, Naarm

    Caitlyn Smith’s creative practice shows a visual representation of memory, the fleeting moments of life, and her heritage as an Australian-Malaysian person. Caitlyn’s work uses bright, warm colours and symbolism to show these captures of time as nostalgic and familiar.

FAQs!

  • I work mostly with film photography and alternative processes. I prefer bringing a physicality to photography as a medium and I enjoy analogue approaches. I also work frequently with painting and collage/mixed media. I use oil paint majority if the time, but I would like to get better at using gouache!

  • I get a lot of inspiration from my surroundings, family and culture. A lot of my work is sensitive and expresses complex personal feelings and conflicts. I am also influenced by friends, nature and media I like, particularly for my illustration work.

  • ★ Bryson Mcbee

    ★ Annabel Le

    ★ Peychi

    ★ Apple Cheeks

    ★ Jamie Green

    ★ Leigh Ellexson

    ★ Tim Sta-Ana

    ★ Paloma the Peach

    ★ Rochelle Oh

    ★ Onenhillion

    ★ Rinko Kawauchi

    ★ Janelle Low

    ★ Jess Schwientek

    ★ Pia Johnson

    ★ Pixy Liao

    ★ Baek Duri

    ★ Shaun Tan

  • I use Photoshop and Lightroom Classic for my photography and editing work. I use Procreate on my iPad for digital drawing and other design work!

  • I am really interested in animation, illustration and design aspects of art. I am a fan of old web design and cool personal websites/blogs/archives. In my spare time I enjoy watching shows and playing games! Some of my favourite media are Steven Universe, Over The Garden Wall, Bee and Puppycat, Mob Psycho 100, Chainsaw Man, Adventure Time and Snoopy! My favourite games of all time are Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2, Undertale, Cooking Mama, Animal Crossing, Breath of The Wild, Rhythm Heaven, Little Nightmares, Firewatch and Melatonin.

a small clover patch illustration, with some coloured in green, and some outlined in green