Jaydin Walch, better known as Smyle, is a 23-year-old visual arts major born in Kansas and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana.

He chose the name Smyle for multiple reasons, but the number one reason is his favorite artist, KYLE, who has an album named SMYLE. Throughout the album, KYLE expressed that he was the nerdy geeky theatre kid that people often called lame and ended up embracing the unconventional route of becoming an artist.  The album was about KYLE on a journey to find his true authentic self, which Smyle related to. 

Smyle is known for his versatility in art, because he works in film, as a photographer, and in other visual arts as well. He is influenced by his film family, SoulsFilmStudios, and other Dillard creatives, who helped him throughout his growing and learning process as an artist. He was also influenced by the internet and media culture, seeing other creatives for inspiration which pushed his imagination.

Smyle said, “Shoutout to the creatives at Dillard University and Soulsfilm, my film family. They definitely caused a massive impact in my artistic growth.”

Art is a way of putting himself into the world, putting a line between art and reality to make “cool stuff.” He does this by experimenting and pushing the limit on “art.” To force the mind to think differently and create something people can relate to and fall in love with. Art is a way for Smyle to express his culture and to reach out into the world.

One of Smyle’s goals when he graduates from Dillard University is to branch out and showcase his artistic style in more creative spaces. This is a goal of his because he wants the world to know there are more people like him out there. However, his ultimate goal is to become an animator/artist who tells stories about black culture. He believes that “representation is immensely important.”