Charlie “Blackcat” Smith is a true-hearted human being who has been obsessed with the art of mechanism and how it all works since childhood. He’s lived on both coasts, and the North, South and Midwest, and considers his early years as an American nomad. He’s now a visual artist, sculptor, flame effects operator, metal fabricator, and dream producer based in Atlanta, GA, where he earned his BFA from the Atlanta College of Art from 1988-1992. Following an internship followed by employment with mixed media sculptor Carl Andre’ Davidt (Andre Studios) 1991-1994, Charlie dove into the film industry, notably in the realms of set production and design house specialty product development. There he built high end fabrication and leadership skills as a crew lead and assistant to art directors, developing his now well-known talent for marinating highly creative and collaborative crews, fostering them in bringing out their best work. He refers to his art form as Contraptionism and identifies himself as a Contraptionist. Contraptionism is a new art movement that he established through the last three decades of his exploration with material, mechanical, and the human effort to create through distorting it into a new. 

Sparseland Studios emerged from the alchemy of these experiences, skills, and developed connections. Since its inception in 1997, countless projects have been conceived and manifested at this SW Atlanta art studio – sculptural, high-end design-build, architectural, art furniture, fine arts, and more. Sparseland has also enabled Charlie to enrich thousands through a singular vision, enabling the growth of visiting artists and developing collaborative projects, which continue flowing through his studio today.

Expertise: Visual arts, sculpture, flame effects, metal fabrication, art direction, production coordination, art curation, event production, interactive art, community workshops, logistics, & heavy equipment.

Select Festivals & Burns: Afrika Burn, Art Outside, Bonnaroo, Burning Man, Coachella, Dubai Desert Rock Festival, Electric Picnic, Insomniac, LA Arts Festival, Love Burn, Mile High Music Festival, Music Midtown, Oakland Fire Arts Festival, Transformus

Burning Man Honoraria & Global Arts Grants: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.

Select Clientele & intuitions: Atlanta Art on The Beltline, Black Rock Art Foundation, Chattahoochee Nature Preserve, The Contemporary Atlanta, Eye Drum, Johnson Studio, Madison Cultural Arts Center, Melia Design Group, Michael Graves and Associates, Nexus Gallery, Stang & Newdow, Radcliffe Bailey, Smithsonian Institution Renwick, Super Fly Productions, Target Corporation, Target house at St. Jude's Hospital, & The YMCA of Atlanta.

lets make something magic happen!

have a great day!