Mali Moir ‘Horse‘, 2020
Mali Moir is a Melbourne artist, who specializes in realist art informed by natural history, botanica and science. Her career and experiences have been notably accomplished. Previously a freelance artist, in 1993, she went on to be the botanical illustrator at the National Herbarium of Victoria. From 2001 Moir was a teacher of botanical and natural science art, and in 2012 became an Honorary Associate of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.
As a shared favorite theme, Mali’s horse artworks have been featured in Kate’s Equus exhibition at Tim Olsen Gallery (see article below), as well as NGV’s The Horse exhibition in 2015.
This year, Mali painted a Horse portrait, commissioned by Kate and currently for sale among consultation. Below is a sequence of images showing the process of creating this energetic piece.
As well as constructing this fantastic, lifelike work, it is worth noting this stunning charcoal piece that Mali originated earlier this year:
Kate is thrilled to work with this creative and technical artist, as her skill and virtuosity continue to amaze. To inquire about commissioning or purchasing a Mali Moir painting, don’t hesitate to get in touch for a consultation.
John McDonald (Art Critic) in SMH: Portia Geach Memorial Award: too much style over substance
https://www.smh.com.au/culture/art-and-design/portia-geach-memorial-award-too-much-style-over-substance-20200818-p55mrn.html
“Two works that make a better attempt to escape the prison house of style are
Marie Mansfield’s Charlie and Kate − an unfussy oil sketch of collector, Kate
Smith and her dog; and Renata Pari-Lewis’s Phillip, which shows a reticent
Phillip Adams blending in with other antiquities in a shadowy, cavernous
room.Kate Smith has such a bright, open face – two dark eyes and the hint of a smile
John McDonald
– that the directness of her personality shines right out of the picture. Phillip
Adams is compelling for the opposite reason. Pari-Lewis has portrayed him as being defined by the objects and artefacts he has collected. The outspoken
media personality has withdrawn to his cultivated man cave, his red shirt
blending in with the colour of the walls.”
Art critic
August 21, 2020
Private Art Consultancy for the Home: 2020
Transforming the Living Space: Private Home Curation
Contemporary art has the power to brighten and enliven the everyday household. Earlier this year, Kate Smith applied her curatorial expertise to transform the blank walls, of a private Melbourne home, into a gallery space in its own right.
In order to produce their ideal gallery, Kate provided exclusive insight to help cover the walls in the latest, quality contemporary works.
“With her contacts and curatorial aptitude, each room is enlivened by an eclectic array of Australian and international art.”
Private Melbourne Client.
Jose Luis Puche: In Exhibition
“I have noticed that under the earth the germinating part grows so that fruits of it grow and reproduce part of life …”
– Jose Luis Puche
Featured in Sydney’s ‘9 Hours Underground’, Spanish artist Jose Luis Puche and his introspective works are a highlight of the exhibition. Internationally acclaimed for his authentic style, Puche was recently awarded in the last edition of the Emerging Artist Awards. As an artist supported, promoted and admired by Kate Smith, Puche was invited to contribute two considerable works to the ‘9 Hours’ exhibition. Collectively titled Prolegomenon, each piece uniquely explores relevant themes and issues regarding the abstract notion of the “underground”.
Prolegomenom, 2017 
The first, a self-portrait, in which the artist emerges in an engulfing, earth-born smoke, is coupled with a work which imagines a bunker, in the form of a museum, whereby a sole protagonist paints the space around him. Puche has become internationally recognized for producing works which, through compelling visual metaphors, ponder the philosophical relationship between the artist and his environment.
“The technique of transcendental meditation offers a suggestive aesthetic model to describe the sensation that makes us contemplate the cold density of its proposal…”
-Art Professor Juan Carlos Robles, on the work of Puche.
As well as his notable contribution to the ‘9 Hours Underground’ exhibition, Puche has an impressive résumé of past and future projects, both for private and public display. He has featured in international exhibits and publications, which stand testimony to his artistic talent and acclaim. Puche continues to innovate with his esoteric and enlightened art.
Kate Smith Project: Life Size Rolls-Royce Painting by Giles Alexander
Comissioned by private Sydney collector with a passion for collecting Rollls-Royce, Sydney-based artist, Giles Alexander, created a life-size portrait painting of the privately owned Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe. In November this remarkable piece was unveiled in the Rolls-Royce Sydney showroom for a private VIP audience.
Giles is an artist, loved and supported by Kate Smith. With over 15 years of experience, his craft has gained international recognition and placed him as one of Australia’s finest contemporary artist. This work exemplifies Giles’ attention to detail and technical excellence. The painting now rests in the home of the private collector.
Kate Smith Curation Project: ‘9 Hours Underground’
In September 2017, Kate Smith collaborated with Wilson Parking to curate the unique ‘9 Hours Underground’; an exhibition held in a hidden man-made cave under Sydney’s botanical gardens, featuring a selection of exciting contemporary artists.
Presenting works by thirteen international and Australian artists, the show represented an impressive line-up, including prize-winning Robert Hague, Giles Alexander, Jonathan Dalton, Jose Luis Puche and Peter Wegner. With this eccentric selection of works, the dark underground space was refashioned into a compelling art experience.
Open to the public, the exhibition received great feedback; a successful display of the power of curation in transforming unlikely spaces.
Kate Smith Curation Project: Equus Exhibition at Tim Olsen Gallery
Kate writes:
“Besides my love of art another love of my life has been horses. So when invited to co-curate an exhibition of these majestic strong and multi-faceted creatures, I jumped at the opportunity. Curating for Olsen Gallery was clearly a case of finding artists that would do works of a standard to compliment the beautifully lit and open spaced gallery.
The artists I chose were either already represented by other galleries or never exhibited or sold works before. My radar for Equus was up. I identified, visited, discussed and worked closely with the below artists to produce the most interesting well-executed artworks for the show.
As the show covered a time frame of the Autumn carnival racing season, Anzac Day and the opening of the Polo season, artists were invited to highlight these topics in their artworks as well as other horse imagery. I love working with artists and offering suggestions images and ideas that will push and open the artist’s eye to a new perspective or challenge. I am thrilled with the result and very proud to be a large part in the existence of these iconic works. I hope you like them as much as I do.”
Artists exhibited are:
Mali Moir
Nicholas Osmond
Noel Mckenna
Paul Ryan
Giles Alexander
Jonathan
Dalton
Matthew Quick
Harrie Fasher
J Lulis Puche
Alexandru Cinean
Kate Smith 