I greatly value my connection to nature here and find it a continued source of inspiration for my work in painting and architecture.
- Kevin Smith
FOUNDATION
In the town outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where I grew up, I had little exposure to architectural practice, but I always had a keen interest in art, drawing, and design. While attending the University of Pennsylvania, these interests led to a deep dive into both art history and architecture — so much so that I earned both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Penn.
CONSTRUCTION
Between undergraduate and graduate school, I was lucky to land a job helping restore barns in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, using centuries-old timber framing and wooden joinery techniques. While I enjoyed this work tremendously, my passion for design inspired me to focus once again on architecture — only this time around, my studies now included hands-on experience in construction — an education in itself.
INFLUENCES
The Philadelphia modernist architect Louis Kahn was a major influence, along with the Arts and Crafts masters, early 20th-century European modernists, and my friend and mentor, Richard Conway Meyer. Meyer’s gifts as an architect and artist, his honesty, generosity, and sincerity, all had a profound impact on me, modeling the way I want to run my practice.
DESIGN
While working Richard, I was inspired to develop my work not only as an architect, but also as an artist. An avid plein air painter, I’ve exhibited my work in galleries and museums throughout the Bay Area and Philadelphia. Both my paintings and architecture focus on subtlety, sensitivity, and perspective — allowing everyday life and the natural world to take center stage.
PRACTICE
My life and practice share time between Berkeley and Inverness, California, on the beautiful Point Reyes peninsula. I’ve lived in Inverness since 2018, having been drawn for years to the transcendent quality of light and grandeur of the northern California coast. I greatly value my connection to nature here and find it a continued source of inspiration for my work in painting and architecture.