about the artist
Allyson Smith is a youth activist, poet, and all-around creative. She is heavily involved with politics and is a firm believer in infusing policy and art to create a way of engagement for youth everywhere. She says no to the status quo and is using her vote/artistic abilities to create a local/national government that reflects her interests as a Black woman. A member of the Memphis Music Initiative, she is an advocate for an equitable education system that is inclusive of the arts. She has been a frequent youth panelist, centering her issues on the importance of bringing your own set to the table. Her chosen artistic medium of photography helps her shape the world around her and articulate her experiences as a Memphis youth. The images she captures are ones that are apparent in her everyday life and give her a sense of identity. In a sense, they feel like home, a fun memory, and a reminder of her teenage process.
