With discarded cardboard and a remarkable eye for detail, Kambel Smith transforms everyday trash into architectural masterpieces that have left art critics speechless. From Philadelphia's ornate City Hall to the soaring lines of the Statue of Liberty, the Germantown artist recreates iconic structures entirely from memory, seeing possibilities in materials others have thrown away. 

It wasn’t an easy journey for the now 38-year-old artist. When Kambel was born,  his parents noticed right away that he was developing differently. For years, he was not communicative and was prone to acting out. "I thought it was a discipline problem," his father, Lonnie, told us last week, "so we disciplined him. That did not work. The problem was so serious, it actually made me physically sick.”

Eventually, the elder Smith discovered that Kambel has autism – which helped him to reimagine how to parent his son. Kambel, working on his own, began to develop a stunning skill for intricately reproducing detailed cardboard versions of various famous landmarks – the Liberty Bell, the Statue of Liberty, and even the Eiffel Tower.

"Living in Germantown, surrounded by history, has only fueled his creativity," Lonnie said. "The old brick houses, churches and historic landmarks speak to him in a way I can't quite explain. He doesn't just see them; he understands them. He notices things other people don't, and he brings those details into his work, making his sculptures feel alive."

The public can now see Kambel's structures in "Cardboard Genius: The Architectural Marvels of Kambel Smith," which opened March 29 and will run through June 29 at the Germantown Historical Society, 5501 Germantown Ave. The exhibition features 11 works by the self-taught artist, whose work now sells for upwards of $25,000.

The exhibition was produced in collaboration with Chris Byrne, founder and director of the Elaine de Kooning House in East Hampton, Long Island, where Smith previously held a residency, and Kambel and his family. The show features several models of Philadelphia landmarks, including Congregation Rodeph Shalom, the Chinatown arch and Germantown's Nugent Home.

Communicating through art

Kambel found art to be a powerful form of expression from his early years. He started with oil paintings and was producing landscapes by the time he was 15. 

But he worked at such volume that keeping him in supplies became more than his father could afford. Not discouraged, Kambel turned to cardboard and foam that neighbors had thrown into the trash. Using these, he started to create sculptures of iconic Philadelphia buildings like the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Divine Lorraine Hotel – all entirely from memory.

He’s now exhibiting in both solo and group shows and at art fairs nationally and internationally. His work has drawn the attention of notable critics, and his pieces have recently been acquired by the American Folk Art Museum, The West Collection and private collectors.

Chris Byrne, founder and director of the Elaine de Kooning House in East Hampton, Long Island, and a graduate of both the University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, first saw Kambel’s sculptures in 2019.

"They made my jaw drop," he said.

Byrne then displayed Kambel's sculptures at the Elaine de Kooning House and the Outsider Art Fair in New York City. They attracted the attention of Holland Cotter, co-chief art critic for The New York Times, and Jerry Saltz, senior art critic for New York Magazine, who called Kambel's work "magnificent."

The American Folk Art Museum acquired Kambel's sculpture of the Divine Lorraine Hotel for its gallery, and the West Collection, housed at the financial services firm SEI Investments in Oaks, Montgomery County, purchased Kambel's sculptures of City Hall and the PSFS Building. 

Kambel, who calls his autism a “superpower” and essentially speaks through his art, said at the time, "It's inspiring. It keeps me going and moving forward."

Tuomi Forrest, executive director of Historic Germantown, said he feels lucky to be able to present the work here.

"We are thrilled to present this exhibit of Kambel Smith's architectural sculptures, including several representing local landmarks,” Forrest said. “We are especially excited to offer the opportunity for community members to see newly created works by a longtime resident of the neighborhood."

The exhibition, while impressive, is not the only example of the family's creative endeavors. Visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to experience additional artistic expressions from the family, including screenings of their award-winning film "Downgraded Citizen” which features a superhero who has autism.

"Art takes many forms in our family," explains Lonnie, who has a second son, Kantai, 30, who also has autism and possesses exceptional coding abilities. To better support both sons' creative development, Lonnie earned a degree from the University of Phoenix in coding and web design.

This collaborative family approach has yielded multiple projects that channel Kambel's visual imagination. "We created a phone app game, Autisarian Run, which gave us closeness," Lonnie said. "It uses Kambel's characters."

The family’s "Downgraded Citizen," which has won four awards and is currently streaming on Fawesome, follows a superhero as a conspiracy unfolds involving a biological weapon disguised as an autism cure. A second film, "Impossible Decision," about a father with autism seeking care for his son, is streaming on Filmzie and other platforms.

The public is invited to view the exhibition Thursdays through Saturdays, 1-4 p.m., or by contacting programs@freedomsbackyard.com for an appointment.

For more information, visit freedomsbackyard.com or Autisarian.com. Len Lear can be reached at lenlear@chestnuthilllocal.com