KYLE SMILE
Kyle Hess A.K.A. Kyle Smile just might be willing to tackle any art form. Lately, he’s been painting murals at friends’ houses around West Palm Beach. But he’s done some serious walls, too. Last year, he did the main mural outside The Vagabond where Bob Dylan’s face once appeared. And he painted the back patio of Respectable Street with a cartoonish scene of aliens in helmets, invading an urban space as UFOs shoot laser beams from above.
The West Palm Beach based artist describes his drawing style as “creepy but cute and cartoonish.” Sometimes, he creates ugly creatures doing adorable things like holding flowers in a field. Out of all of his many characters, he’s only repeated one – the dinosaur. That cute and friendly dinosaur scored one of the fold-out centerfolds in this month’s PureHoney. And he’s showing up again at Hess’ art show later this month. On Saturday, April 12, Kyle will open up his first solo show at Coastars Coffee Bar in Lake Worth, where his works will be on display through mid-May.
The exhibition will consist of original paintings, prints, and art on objects such as creepy faces on coconuts and painted up lunchboxes. Word has it a strange robot head made of reclaimed electronics will pop up, but you’ll have to go to find out. “I constantly take apart TVs, VCRs and electronics,” he says. “I have a suitcase full of weird wires and computer brains.”
When Hess isn’t at his day job, he spends his free time working on a variety of projects. This can mean he’s focused on his stop motion animation or in music mode recording chilled-out ambient music. Or he plays his accordion and records whatever sound suits his mood. The prolific artist still has other goals he’d like to conquer. “If I could do whatever I wanted, I would make TV commercials,” he says. “The last ten years I’ve had this thing in the back of my mind to create them. I want to direct.”
When he was a kid, commercials inspired him especially ones for Skittles. “I loved seeing Skittles commercials,” he says. “I remember they had this one with the Skittles falling from the sky. You don’t see those anymore.” But he wouldn’t stop there. “I would love to make my own movies. And a couple cartoons.”
Download his song ‘Carry On’ for free on; this months PureHoney Promo Compilation. Kyle Smile Hess’ opening reception is from 7-11pm on Saturday, April 12 at Coastars Coffee Bar, located at 12 S J Street, in Lake Worth. His solo show will run through mid-May 2014. Call 561-533-0353. No cover.
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~Andrea Richard
