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 love of small traditions and detail, and the cultural intersection of her Australian-Malaysian heritage. Based in Naarm, she utilizes photography and painting/illustration based processes to deconstruct and reconstruct as an act of reflective catharsis and expression.
Caitlyn finds comfort in the mundanity of familiar settings and routines, with an appreciation for food and unique cultural or familial traditions - such as cutting apple for the family after each meal. 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 and culture.
Hó Chiáh - Small Art Business
Hó Chiáh translates to ‘yummy’ or ‘delicious’ in Hokkien. Focusing largely on photographic, illustrated, or mixed-media products, Hó Chiáh is a fun and playful representation of an appreciation for culture, familiarity, and nostalgia. All items are hand-made or locally manufactured with inspiration drawn from Chinese-Malaysian heritage, food and fruit/veg and niche/silly interests and childhood nostalgia.
CV:
Lives and works in Naarm (Melbourne), VIC
Selected Exhibitions
2025 - Untitled - Asian Heritage Week Mini Exhibition (group show), The Workshop Bar, VIC
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
Awards
2024 - Excellence Award, RMIT Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts, 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 partnership with Pleming Danni and Katarina Vukmirovic
2024 - Marketing and Communications Committee member - Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts
Collections
Various private collections
Stockists/Markets & Tabling Events
2025 - Mini Artist Market, The Workshop Bar, VIC
2025 - Incube8r, Melbourne Central, VIC
2025 - Incubator, Fitzroy, VIC
Education
2024 - Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts, RMIT University (VE)
2023 - Diploma of Visual Arts, RMIT University (VE)