Zhay Smith is a New York-based personal stylist turned surface pattern designer. She is the Lead Designer and CEO of ZHAYSTYLE Studio. With an eye for beauty, she often uses photography as a jumping-off point for her work, and incorporates bold elegant typography to make a statement. She is an avid learner with a playful spirit, who infuses her background in fashion, interior design, and fine art into her illustrations and graphic design work.
Growing up in a beach town, Zhay says she was surrounded by design. The house she grew up in was custom-designed, and built by an architect for his family. She watched her aunt collect unique pieces of driftwood have them painted or sanded, and then varnished to finish off the look of a room that she was hired to decorate. Even her mom was constantly making everything from curtains to culottes to handmade plush toys to sell. And don’t even get me started on her dad! He helped Zhay develop her eye for fashion and style. He taught her how to pull together colors and coordinate prints and create looks for men’s clothing. When Zhay began to sell her own work as a teen, her father even helped her plan and build custom art pieces made of stained glass and wood.
Zhay’s family was full of designers, but they didn’t know it. It came so naturally. So, I guess designing is in her blood. Zhay considers herself a multidisciplinary artist and designer. She loves to explore many different mediums. However, being a Surface Pattern Designer brings it all together. She gets to see her art on products sold all over the world. You can find some of Zhay’s work at Minted.com.
What Does Black History Month Mean To You This Year?
Since this is Black history month, I would like to share that I have relatives who were architects, and worked on one of the first hotels in my hometown, The San Carlos Hotel. They built houses for rich people in town. They were my great Uncle Alexander and Uncle George Eagan. They kind of passed for white so till this day, I don’t think anyone but our family ever knew that Black men helped design that hotel. I feel like this month is when these family stories really bubble up to surface for me.
Some pivotal heart-wrenching events have brought us to this new level of awakening for many here in the US and across the world. Many people were sleepwalking. Black history this year means not being invisible anymore...not being a blip on the screen. While I don't rejoice in the fact that brothers and sisters had to die so senselessly in order for everyone to finally open their eyes, I'm grateful that now all peoples are paying more attention. Friends of mine from other races are actually not just giving lip service or stopping at placing a little black square on their IG posts. They are caring enough to learn about "our Black American" heroes and heroines. They are having uncomfortable conversations with their friends, close relatives and communities. We are beginning to respect that Black history IS American history. It is not to continue to be a side note. We are challenging the absence of Black faces, Black voices, and Black perspectives in art, design, and culture. Black people are some of the most brilliant, resilient, gifted and triumphant people groups to walk the planet. That should be honored and respected. They have been a voice for the voiceless. How does that saying go? A rising tide lifts all boats.
And for us to truly understand ourselves we have to go back further than the sixties, further than slavery. We all have to continue to work to make sure our full stories are told and are balanced to correct mis-education or partial education. It is the removal of omissions for me. Black history this year is still being written and still being discovered. We must keep moving forward.
What Is The First Creative Thing You Are Going To Do Post Pandemic?
Does everybody say travel? It's amazing the things you take for granted until they are gone. You know what I would love? I miss seeing LIVE events and dance theater performances like Alvin Ailey "Revelations" & other Broadway shows. I get so inspired! It would also be great to go to a summer concert series in the park again.
To Learn More About Zhay visit:
Website: zhaystylestudio.com
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zhaystyle/
Minted Store: http://shrsl.com/2n0ds