Artist Statements
Born in Jonestown, Mississippi, Aj Smith is currently a Professor in the Art Department at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Professor Smith holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting and printmaking (1977) from Queens College, City University of New York (CUNY) and Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting and printmaking (1974) from the Kansas City Art Institute in Kansas City, Missouri. Professor Smith is also a Master Printer in fine art printmaking. He apprenticed five years with Mr. Robert Blackburn, distinguished artist, art professor, and founding Director of the Printmaking Workshop, Inc. in New York City. Professor Smith’s additional scholarship includes fellowships at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture; Skowhegan, Maine; Tamarind Institute; Albuquerque, New Mexico, Brandywine Center for the Visual Arts; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, Vermont, and Invited Artist at the 2008 GKK International Linocut Symposium; Galleria Klatovy-Klanova, Czech Republic. Aj Smith is recognized for an extensive exhibition record to include national and international venues. Professor Smith is included in WHO’S WHO IN AMERICAN ART, initial entry, 24th Edition. Art review publications to include Mr. Smith’s artwork are the New York Times Weekend Arts Section, Los Angeles Times, Flash Art Magazine, international office in New York City, and Art Forum. His work is represented in public and private collections throughout the United States, China, and Czech Republic. A selected list of public collections include the United States Library of Congress, Arkansas Arts Center Foundation Permanent Collection in Little Rock, Arkansas; Columbia Museum; Columbia, South Carolina; and the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.