The four-letter expletive he’d spread across canvas appropriately summed up Calix Smith’s frustration with the education system.

He couldn’t believe it when the organisers of a fashion show wouldn’t let him hang it at their event last year. “It was omitted from the show,” he said. “Omissions happen, but I felt hurt because no one even asked me to explain the piece.”

The rejection fuelled the 33-year-old abstract artist’s determination to showcase his work. A year later, he’s proud that the Bermuda Society of Arts accepted his exhibit, Since You Don’t Give a Sh*t, Why Should I?

“It is good for your mental health to think outside the box,” he said. “Internationally, I don’t even think my work would be that controversial.

“I think people consider my work controversial because I talk about subject matter that they don’t relate to or don’t want to talk about.”

One of his pieces depicts a black vagina giving birth to little pink men; there’s also the previously banned work, with F**k It! written in gold.

“I talk about things that move my empathy,” he said. “The viewer’s interpretation, mixed with their perspective, is important and valuable.

“I am more enamoured with the idea of seeing and hearing what other people think and what resonates with them.”

Conservative Bermuda hasn’t always been easy for him as an artist.

“For some people, it is easier to find stuff or collect art that doesn’t challenge them,” he said. “But a beautiful image is just a beautiful image. When it pertains to sales it doesn’t really bother me too much. It will come around. It always does.

“I’ve lowered my price point quite a lot so that people who like my art can buy it, even if they don’t have a lot of money.”

His last solo show, A Prelude to You Not Giving A Sh*t, was hanging at Chewstick when its Front Street headquarters burnt down last July.

“It was one of my most successful shows,” Mr Smith said. “I sold a lot of work. I don’t think I’ve really had time to mourn the loss of that work. I sunk into a hole for a little bit. Then I picked myself up and started again.

“Last year I was trying to figure out where I was going. Last year was my mix tape and this is my album, in essence.”

His hope is to one day create outside Bermuda. “I will be going to New York soon,” he said. “I will tap into whatever connections I have out there and see what comes up. I want to branch out, because Bermuda is one of those boxes for artists.

“If you let yourself stay in there you will get packed into the closet very easily.”

• The exhibit runs through July 4. See www.bsoa.bm