Philip Smith

Being raised by a father that can read your mind while talking to the dead, certainly changes how you view the world. Add to that a glamorous and brilliant mother who navigated 50’s high society with pizzazz and grace. Cocktails with the Presidents of Cuba and Haiti, Walt Disney and Dean Martin as clients and parents from another planet resulted in one of the most unusual childhoods imaginable. Based on this supernatural yet stylish environment Philip Smith, captured the bizarre and often hilarious incidents of his childhood in his highly successful memoir, Walking Through Walls (Atria/Simon & Schuster).

The book, set in Miami of the 50s and 60s tells the true story of his father, an internationally recognized interior decorator who one day discovers that he is surrounded by talking spirits of departed souls and that he possesses remarkable healing abilities. Philip’s life is turned upside down as his family tries to deal with this unexpected supernatural existence. At any moment, his father might be conducting séances or performing miraculous healings while his mother was out marching on Washington for civil rights or gambling in Havana’s best casinos.

Straddling two worlds, Philip’s early years left a profound influence on him. He developed the innate wisdom inherited from his father and a powerful visual sense from his mother. As a result, Philip felt comfortable in the abstract world of aesthetics and invisible beings. He went on to become an accomplished artist, with works in the permanent collection of museums around the country including the Whitney Museum, Miami Art Museum and Dallas Museum of Fine Arts. He has participated in both the Beijing and Whitney Biennials. Smith is also the recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts in painting.

When Smith moved to New York, he was very active in the now celebrated “Pictures” artist scene. In addition, he spent time at Andy Warhol’s factory and went on to write for Interview Magazine. Eventually Andy offered him the job as Editor which he declined in order to pursue his painting.

In addition to his art, Smith has always written. At the young age of 28, he was Managing Editor of GQ and has published works in Interview, Harper’s Bazaar and Martha Stewart Living. It is in Walking Through Walls that Smith shares his magical childhood in a writing style that is both cinematic and insightful.

Not only a visual artist, Smith is also a martial artist, holding the rank of Shodan in Seido karate.

Smith currently resides in Miami Beach and New York City.