Art and Aperitifs: Calida Rawles in Conversation with C. Rose Smith

Join us for a compelling artist talk at your art museum, as curator Rose Smith sits down for an in-depth conversation with celebrated painter Calida Rawles on the topic of her current exhibition, Away with the Tides. Known for her luminous, water-drenched portraits that center Black bodies in states of grace, resilience, and possibility, Calida Rawles has emerged as a leading voice in contemporary art. In this intimate conversation, curator C. Rose Smith will uncover the inspirations behind her work, her creative process, and the role of beauty, movement, and memory in her practice.
Together, they’ll explore themes of identity, visibility, and the transformative power of art, offering insight into how Rawles’ paintings speak both to the present moment and a future imagined with care.

Art & Aperitifs: Calida Rawles in Conversation with C. Rose Smith is presented by YMCA of Memphis & The Midsouth.

Presented by Bank of America. Supported by Terra Foundation for American Art, Fish + Associates, Black Art Collective, and The Burroughs Foundation, Cathy Ross and Black Art Collective