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Anthony Smith received a B.A. in Fine Arts from Amherst College (1999) and an M.F.A. in Painting from the University of Michigan (2001). He’s shown nationally in “From Here On Out” at Gallery Marzen/ IAG in Madison Wisconsin in 2020, the “Mid-Atlantic Painting 2016” exhibit at the University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg, VA in 2016; the 2010 “Sailing the Barbarous Coast” which traveled to Boston and Amherst, Ma and Milwaukee, Wi; and notably the 2008 “Runaway” show at the University of Texas Pan-American Gallery in McAllen TX for which he received a Puffin Foundation grant. In 2022 he will also exhibit in a solo show “Secret Worlds” at the Blair Academy in Blairstown, NJ. Additionally, he has received a Project Stream grant from the Pennsylvania Council for the Arts for the Pilot series of paintings exhibited in the show Dreadnaught at the ArtsQuest SteelStacks Center in Bethlehem, PA in 2018. Internationally he’s shown in the “Tribute to Michelangelo” show at CrisolArts Gallery in Barcelona, Spain in 2013, and in various Pennsylvania exhibitions including the Winter Show at the Bethlehem House Gallery in 2016 and 2019, and in “The New Normal” at Moravian University’s Payne Gallery in 2021. He’s been reviewed in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, The Detroit Free Press, The Ann Arbor News, and the Artist’s Magazine. Smith has taught at such institutions as the University of Michigan, Parsons, Princeton, and Maryland Institute College of Art. Additionally, he served as artist-in-residence at the National Academy of Design (2006 – 2008), and at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, VT in 2016 and 2022. Most recently he’s taught at Muhlenberg College in Allentown Pa (2014- 2018) and currently teaches Drawing at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, PA. He lives in Allentown Pa with a studio at the Banana Factory Art Center in Bethlehem, PA.
I make artwork that’s filled with rich dense spaces. These spaces coalesce into vibrant worlds where I often play out moral, political or philosophical fantasies using calligraphic gestures that feel vaguely calligraphic. I often layer and then erase work I’ve spent hours producing simply to capture the ghost of what came before. I tell stories. I tell stories within stories. I tell stories that are not always meant to be perceived by the viewer. These are my secret work. I always leave a morsel that viewers can grab hold of be it a friendly gesture, appealing color, or familiar image that, like breadcrumbs, I hope leads the viewer on a journey of discovery. I make overwhelming work because the world for me is overwhelming. Then from time to time, and as a respite from the noise, I paint over it all with a happy landscape that thinly masks the cacophony just beneath the surface.
Education
Amherst College, Amherst, MA (1995 - 1999) Granted BA in Fine Arts and Political Science
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (1999 - 2001) Granted MFA in Painting
Kyoto Seika University, Kyoto, Japan, (2001) Study Abroad in Printmaking
Vermont Studio Center, Johnson Vermont, (2016, 2022) artist-in-residence in painting
Academic Experience
Northampton Community College, Bethlehem, PA (2021-current), Adjunct Professor
Educator responsible for teaching two courses, Drawing 1 and Drawing 3. Both courses focused on rendering from observation with a focus , particularly in Drawing 3, on experimental and collaborative art-making lessons.
Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA (2017-2018), Adjunct Professor
Educator responsible for designing and teaching an introduction to Printmaking course, with a focus on relief, intaglio and silk screen printing and on collaborative art making as well as an Introduction to Basic Drawing course with a focus on experimentation and close observation.
Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA (2014-2015), Visiting Artist
Artist responsible for demonstrating relief printing techniques to undergraduates in the College’s Printmaking 1 and 2 courses working with lead professor in printmaking Associate Professor Emily Orzech.
Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA (2012), Adjunct Professor
Educator responsible for designing and teaching two courses, Drawing 2 and Painting 2 also called Topics in Painting. Both courses focused on experimental and collaborative methods of art making.
Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), Baltimore, MD (2008), Adjunct Professor
Educator responsible for designing and teaching a three credit non-discipline-oriented arts course called “Elements in Visual Thinking” as part of the Foundations department at MICA.
Parsons, The New School for Design, New York, NY (2008), Adjunct-Assistant Professor
Educator responsible for designing and teaching a non-credit Printmaking course to Prospective undergrads for part of Parsons Summer Pre-College Program.
Princeton University, Princeton NJ (2007), Adjunct-Assistant Professor
Educator responsible for designing and teaching Basic Drawing to undergraduates in the universities program in visual arts. Additionally, selected and the “Printmaking Project” artist for the spring of 2007.
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (2001- 2002), Adjunct Professor
Educator responsible for co-designing team-taught course “Detroit Connections”. Responsible for course design (open education), syllabus writing, collaboration with school principals, oversight of student teachers, selection of workspaces and locations for artworks, collaboration with other team teachers regarding assignment and grading of student academic work.
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (2001), Graduate Student Instructor
Educator responsible for designing and teaching undergraduate Basic Drawing course.
Related Professional Experience
Banana Factory Arts Center, ArtsQuest, Bethlehem, PA, (2016), Art Instructor
Educator responsible for designing and teaching a basic printmaking course with a focus on relief and monotype printmaking.
Oasis Kids Inc. /Oasis Children Inc., New York, NY (2008-2010), Art Instructor
Educator responsible for designing and teaching 2D and 3D art courses at four locations in Manhattan for K-12 students while with Oasis Kids. With its sister organization Oasis Children, educator responsible for teaching summer arts course at PS 38 in East Harlem to K-9 students.
National Academy of Design, New York, NY (2006-2008), Teaching Artist and Artist-in-Residence
Teaching Artist responsible for coordinating after school arts program for at risk K-12 students at Jackson Avenue Family Residence in the Bronx in 2007-2008. Artist-in- residence at James Weldon Johnson School PS57 responsible for designing and teaching after school arts program for middle school aged students.
Studio Assistant to Tony Grey, New York, NY (2003)
Prison Creative Arts Project (PCAP) Ann Arbor, Michigan (2000-2001)
Educator responsible for facilitating recreational arts programming for prisoners in Jackson Michigan area corrections facilities,
Other Professional Experience
Home Depot Allentown PA (2014 to 2021) Customer Service Associate
Security Council Report (Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs) New York, NY (2006) Administrative Assistant
Responsible for providing comprehensive administrative support to the Executive Director and Director of Research of the Security Council Report. Assisting in posting content to SCR website. Providing for office support and performing data entry into contact database and daily news database, as well as maintaining publication distribution lists (print, fax and electronic).
The New York Times, New York, NY (2002 to 2006), National Desk Research Associate
Associate and clerk for the National Desk responsible for preparing articles for editorial review. Additionally, responsible for database management and graphic design for the New York Times submission to the Society for News Design and the Pulitzer Prize.
Michigan Federation of Teachers, (Lecturers Employee Organization), (2001), Organizer
Responsible for the recruitment of Lecturers and Adjunct faculty in the University of Michigan system for a proposed union to support the interests of part time faculty at U-M
Exhibitions
2022
Romano Gallery, Blair Academy, Secret Worlds, Blairstown, NJ
2022
Romano Gallery, Blair Academy, Hidden Worlds, Blairstown, New Jersey
2021
Payne Gallery, Moravian University, The New Normal, Bethlehem, PA
Crayola Gallery, Banana Factory, Artist-in-residence Exhibition, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Gallery Marzen, From Here on Out, Madison, Wisconsin
2020
Crayola Gallery, Banana Factory, Artist-in-residence Exhibition, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
The Williams Center Gallery Lafayette University, Bittersweet Passing, Easton, PA
2019
The Bethlehem House Gallery, The Holiday Show, Bethlehem, PA
Crayola Gallery, Banana Factory, Artist-in-residence Exhibition, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Crayola Gallery, Banana Factory, Compendium Annual Exhibition, Bethlehem, PA
Soft Machine Gallery, Release, Allentown, Pennsylvania
2018
Gallery on the Walk, Landscapes, Cityscapes, Faces & Places, Allentown, PA
Gallery 840, Around the Valley, Allentown, PA
MarketView Arts, Generations, York, Pennsylvania
Steelstacks ArtQuest, Dreadnought, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Crayola Gallery, Banana Factory, Land(scape), Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
The Bethlehem House Gallery, The Printmakers Show, Bethlehem, PA
Crayola Gallery, Banana Factory, Artist-in-residence Exhibition, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
2017
Crayola Gallery, Banana Factory, Artist-in-residence Exhibition, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
2016
Ridderhof Martin Gallery, Mid-Atlantic New Painting 2016, Fredericksburg, VA
Bank Street Gallery, Inchoatic, Easton, PA
The Bethlehem House Gallery, The Winter Show, Bethlehem, PA
Artist-in-residence Exhibition, Crayola Gallery, Banana Factory, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Re-Find of Easton, Love is in the Air, Easton, PA
Gallery 415, Condensation, Catasauqua, PA
Studio B Gallery, Cultivate Show, Boyertown, PA
Lebanon Gallery, Two Person Show (Anthony Smith Jr. and Melissa Perhamus), Lebanon, PA
2015
Crayola Gallery Banana Factory, Artist-in-residence Annual Show, Bethlehem, PA
Rotunda Gallery, 2nd Annual Exhibition of the Printmakers of the Lehigh Valley, Bethlehem, PA
Bank Street Gallery, “Qisma” Easton, Pennsylvania
Ann Arbor Art Center, “Art Now: Painting 2015”, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Re-Find of Easton, “Vampires, Race and Other Sources of Inspiration”, Easton, Pennsylvania
Connexion Gallery, “A Bunch of Bananas” and “The Holiday Show”, Easton, Pennsylvania
Civic 514 Gallery, “Solo Show”, Allentown, Pennsylvania
2014
Scope Art, “Art Takes Miami”, Miami Beach, Florida
Metrospace Gallery, “{___+____}, {____+____}, {____+____}: A Collage Show”, Lansing, MI
State Theater, “Arts Community of Easton Fall Show”, Easton, Pennsylvania
Art on Astor Row, “The Sum of Histories”, Harlem, New York
The Detroit Center, The University of Michigan, “The UpstART Festival”, Detroit, MI
The University of Michigan School of Social Work, “Social Justice Art Festival”, Ann Arbor, MI
The Andrew Freedman Home, “Artist Chain Reaction Competition”, Bronx, New York
2013
Crisolart Gallery, “Tribute to Michelangelo”, Barcelona, Spain
“FUSE Art Infrastructure’s Cigar Factory Installation”, Allentown PA
“FUSE Art Infrastructure’s Schoern’s Building Installation”, Allentown, PA
Eiffe Gallery Moravian College, “New Bridge Group Summer Group Show”, Bethlehem, PA
Allentown Art Works, “The Ode to Water”, Allentown, Pennsylvania
SpaceWomb Gallery, “Affordable Art Show”, New York, New York
2012
Gallery Project, “Grammar of the Elite”, Ann Arbor, Michigan
2010
New Art Center in Newton, University Galleries, Walker Point Art Center, “Sailing the Barbarous Coast”, Newton, Massachusetts; University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, Milwaukee, WI
2009
Gallery Project, “Race”, Ann Arbor, Michigan
2008
The University of Texas Pan-American Gallery, “Runaway”, McAllen, Texas
2007
Gallery Project, “Identity and Expression”, Ann Arbor Michigan
Spensertown Academy Arts Center, “On Your Mark”, Spensertown, NY
Rainy River Exhibit Hall, Three Graphic Narratives, International Falls, MN
ALL (Arts and Literature Laboratory) Gallery, “Loud”, New Haven, CT
2006
National Academy of Design, “181st Annual Exhibition”, New York, NY
The University of Texas Pan-American Gallery, “Duality: La Muerte y La Vida” McAllen, Texas
Art League of Long Island, “On Paper/Of Paper”, Dix Hill, New York
555 Gallery, “Terms of Use”, Detroit, Michigan
Arlington Center for the Arts, “Disarmed”, Arlington, Massachusetts
2005
New Art Center in Newton, “Icograms”, Newton, Massachusetts
The 'temporary Museum of Painting, “The Impermanent Collection II”, Brooklyn, New York
2004
Studio Museum of Harlem, “Harlem World”, New York, NY
2001
Studio 4 West, “Anniversary Exhibition”, Piermont, New York
2000
Houston Memorial Museum, “CWA National Multimedia Juried Show”, Huntsville, Texas
Reviews and Criticism
Sommers, David, “Anthony Smith Interview”, Lehigh Valley Gay Journal, Fall 2020
Silliman, Marian, “Anthony Smith Jr: A Dystopian Journey”, The Easton Irregular, Summer, 2016
Smith, Anthony Jr., “Making a Mark” International Review of African American Art: Norman Lewis Special Edition, 2/ 2016
Tanyanika Samuels “A Tag-Team Art Competition Launches in the Bronx” The Wall Street Journal, 3/7/2014
Rafael Francisco Sala, ““Sailing the Barbarous Coast” at WPCA” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/6/2010
Faye Whitbeck, “Artist exhibit at RRCC represents diverse and impressive background”, The Daily Journal, International Falls, MN, 4/5/07
Lisa Wurster, “25 under 40”, (profile of work), The Artist’s Magazine, 3/2007
Christine Temin, “With disparate views, they vividly evoke city life,” (review of show at New Art Center, Newton, MA), The Boston Globe, 4/20/2005
Denise Taylor, “Dance and politics mix; a spring fling in Framingham,” (preview of show at New Art Center, Newton, MA) The Boston Globe, 4/15/2005
Herbert Muschamp, “Metaphors Rise In Harlem Sky,” (review of show at Studio Museum in Harlem) The New York Times, 2/13/2004
Keri Guten Cohen, “Moodiness cements a strong, tight show,” (review of show at Paint Creek Center for the Arts, MI) Detroit Free Press, 9/10/2001
Grants, Awards, Institutional Commissions, and Acquisitions
Aesthetics Inc, PSH Hamden Medical Center Commission, 2020
Integrated Art Group, Lehigh Valley Health Network Cedar Crest, “Summer in Laury’s Station” Acquisition, Allentown PA 2020
Hindle Power, Mural Commission, Easton, PA 2019
Lehigh Valley Arts Council, PPA Project Stream Grant recipient 2017
VisualAIDS, art materials grant, 2016, 2017, and 2021
National Academy of Design, artist-in-residence grant, 2006-2008
Puffin Foundation, Artist Grant, 2007
University of Michigan, Rackham Discretionary Fellowship (2001), The Redstone Award (2001), Rackham Merit Fellowship (1999-2001)
Amherst College, The Obed Finch Slingerland Memorial Prize (1999), The Athanasios Demetrios Skouras Prize (1999), Post-Baccalaureate Fellowship (1999)
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Anthony Smith Jr., The Banana Factory Art Center, 25 W 3rd St studio #242, Bethlehem, PA (studio), 42 N West St. Allentown, PA 18102 (residence), anthonysmithjr@yahoo.com. www.anthonysmithjr.com