DWIGHT SMITH

     

As an abstract expressionist, I work to harmonize opposing forces into balance. I draw on design elements found in African, African American, and multicultural imagery, which serve as catalysts for my exploration of the visual languages that shape my artistic voice. Through my work, I respond to the tension between a resonant past and a compelling present. Each piece represents a struggle to balance my personal insights with broader global themes while remaining committed to the intimate principles of painting. 

 

An Associate Professor of Visual Art in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at Fayetteville State University. He is an abstract painter, exhibition curator, arts administrator, and board member of several arts organizations. As a dedicated supporter of cultural arts, Smith founded the Ellington-White Community Development Corporation and managed the Ellington-White Contemporary Art Gallery, which showcases emerging and established artists. The gallery features an annual exhibition schedule that includes both national and local artists, touring exhibitions, and curatorial research projects in the visual arts and humanities. The Ellington-White CDC is a nonprofit, arts-focused community development organization that promotes diverse cultural experiences across various artistic disciplines.

 

Nationally, he serves as the co-chair of the National Conference of Artists (NCA) and of the Michigan Chapter of the organization. Founded in 1959, the NCA is the oldest organization dedicated to African American visual artists, and Smith has been a member since 1976. He is also a board member of The National Alliance of Artists at HBCUs. 

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As an artist, he has exhibited his work nationally and internationally, with pieces included in numerous public and private collections across the country. For your reference, a curriculum vitae is attached, providing a detailed overview of his artistic journey.

                        

Here are a few selected statements of what artists have said about Smith’s work and visual career.  

Dwight’s understanding and appreciation of art history and culture are evident in his art. Willis Bing Davis

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For over five decades, artist Dwight Smith has articulated a holistic vision grounded in African artistic traditions, advancing a practice that underscores the restorative and cultural continuities within African American art. Shirley Woodson

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Dwight Smith’s creative works are artifacts of a lived American experience from the 1970s to 2025. Revelations: 50 Years of Painting serves as a historical signifier, revealing notions of identity and place within a changing cultural landscape.   Soni Martin

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In Smith’s abstract paintings, content is not an object to be pointed at; it is an event that unfolds between the work and the viewer. Meaning arrives in the encounter. Desmond McFarlane