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Arthur George "Art" Smith (1917–1982) was one of the leading modernist jewelers of the mid-20th century, and one of the few Afro-Caribbean people working in the field to reach international recognition. He trained at Cooper Union, NYU, and under Winifred Mason.^[1]^[2]

Style

Smith's jewelry has been described as:

Inspired by surrealism, biomorphicism, and primitivism ... dynamic in its size and form.^[3]

Many of his pieces were designed to be worn by avant-garde dancers, which influenced his style. The pieces were often large. Of his own work, he said:

A piece of jewelry is in a sense an object that is not complete in itself. Jewelry is a ‘what is it?’ until you relate it to the body. The body is a component in design just as air and space are. Like line, form, and color, the body is a material to work with. It is one of the basic inspirations in creating form.^[4]

Alexander Calder was also an influence.^[5] Smith was friend and contemporary to many in the downtown New York City arts and fashion scene, such as sandal maker Barbara Shaum and Knobkerry's Sara Penn.^[6]

Biography

Smith was born in Cuba, after his parents emigrated there from Jamaica. They moved to New York City when he was three years old.^[7]^[8]

As an adult, Smith worked in Manhattan's Greenwich Village, running a shop there from 1946 until 1979 (shortly before his death). Smith was a gay Afro-Caribbean, and as a result was subject to attacks shortly after his store opened.^[9] A fan of jazz and modern dance, he was personally acquainted with musicians of the period including Lena Horne, Harry Belafonte, Eartha Kitt and Talley Beatty.^[9]^[10]

Smith died in 1982 of heart disease.^[11]

Exhibitions and holdings

During his life, Smith's work was featured in Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, and exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Crafts.^[9] Posthumously, Smith's work was the subject of an exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum in 2008-2011,^[3] and is held in the permanent collection of the Cooper Hewitt Museum, Museum of Art and Design, and Boston Museum of Fine Arts.^[1]^[12]

One piece of Smith's sold for $22,000,^[11] and a cufflink collector told the New York Times that Smith's cufflinks were the most expensive pieces in his collection.^[13]

References

^ ^a ^b Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. "Art Smith". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
^ Schon, Marbeth. "The Jewelry of Winifred Mason". Modern Silver. Archived from the original on 2015-05-20. Retrieved 2015-10-18.
^ ^a ^b "From the Village to Vogue: The Modernist Jewelry of Art Smith". Brooklyn Museum. Retrieved 2015-10-18.
^ Schrieber, Fran. "Review: From the Village to Vogue, The Modernist Jewelry of Art Smith". Modern Silver. Archived from the original on 2015-11-13. Retrieved 2015-10-18.
^ "Art Smith | Necklace". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 2017-02-12.
^ Kitto, Svetlana (2022). Sara Penn's Knobkerry: An Oral History Sourcebook. Long Island City, NY: SculptureCenter. ISBN 978-1-7377186-0-4.
^ Russell, Charles L. (2015-12-28). Art as Adornment: The Life and Work of Arthur George Smith. Outskirts Press. ISBN 9781478743156.
^ From the Village to Vogue: The Modernist Jewelry of Art Smith. Brooklyn Museum. 2008-01-01.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Biography". Catalog: From the Village to Vogue: The Modernist Jewelry of Art Smith. Brooklyn Museum. 2008-01-01.
^ Tapley, Mel (1982-03-06). "Obituary: Art Smith". www.925-1000.com. New Amsterdam News. Retrieved 2015-10-18.
^ ^a ^b Smith, Nicola (2016-03-10). "Art Notes: Lebanon Resident's Book Memorializes Pioneering Jewelry Designer's Legacy". Valley News. Retrieved 2017-02-12.
^ "Arthur Smith". Museum of Arts and Design Collection Database. Archived from the original on 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2015-10-18.
^ Kahn, Eve M. (2016-07-21). "When Form Meets Function: Cuff Links Throughout the Centuries". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-02-13.

External links

[CH-1] Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. "Art Smith". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 17 October 2015.

[2] Schon, Marbeth. "The Jewelry of Winifred Mason". Modern Silver. Archived from the original on 2015-05-20. Retrieved 2015-10-18.

[:0-3] "From the Village to Vogue: The Modernist Jewelry of Art Smith". Brooklyn Museum. Retrieved 2015-10-18.

[4] Schrieber, Fran. "Review: From the Village to Vogue, The Modernist Jewelry of Art Smith". Modern Silver. Archived from the original on 2015-11-13. Retrieved 2015-10-18.

[5] "Art Smith | Necklace". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 2017-02-12.

[6] Kitto, Svetlana (2022). Sara Penn's Knobkerry: An Oral History Sourcebook. Long Island City, NY: SculptureCenter. ISBN 978-1-7377186-0-4.

[7] Russell, Charles L. (2015-12-28). Art as Adornment: The Life and Work of Arthur George Smith. Outskirts Press. ISBN 9781478743156.

[8] From the Village to Vogue: The Modernist Jewelry of Art Smith. Brooklyn Museum. 2008-01-01.

[:1-9] "Biography". Catalog: From the Village to Vogue: The Modernist Jewelry of Art Smith. Brooklyn Museum. 2008-01-01.

[10] Tapley, Mel (1982-03-06). "Obituary: Art Smith". www.925-1000.com. New Amsterdam News. Retrieved 2015-10-18.

[:2-11] Smith, Nicola (2016-03-10). "Art Notes: Lebanon Resident's Book Memorializes Pioneering Jewelry Designer's Legacy". Valley News. Retrieved 2017-02-12.

[12] "Arthur Smith". Museum of Arts and Design Collection Database. Archived from the original on 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2015-10-18.

[13] Kahn, Eve M. (2016-07-21). "When Form Meets Function: Cuff Links Throughout the Centuries". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-02-13.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[File:Art smith, spirali in diminuzione, 1958 ca.jpg|thumb|Spiral necklace, 1958 ca.]]
-'''Arthur George "Art" Smith''' (1917–1982) was one of the leading modernist jewelers of the mid-20th century, and one of the only Afro-Caribbean people working in the field. He trained at [[Cooper Union]], [[New York University|NYU]], and under [[Winifred Mason]].<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/people/18049319/ |title=Art Smith |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=17 October 2015 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = The Jewelry of Winifred Mason|url = http://www.modernsilver.com/winifredmason.html|accessdate = 2015-10-18|publisher = Modern Silver|last = Schon|first = Marbeth}}</ref>
+'''Arthur George "Art" Smith''' (1917–1982) was one of the leading modernist jewelers of the mid-20th century, and one of the few Afro-Caribbean people working in the field to reach international recognition. He trained at [[Cooper Union]], [[New York University|NYU]], and under [[Winifred Mason]].<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/people/18049319/ |title=Art Smith |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=17 October 2015 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = The Jewelry of Winifred Mason|url = http://www.modernsilver.com/winifredmason.html|accessdate = 2015-10-18|publisher = Modern Silver|last = Schon|first = Marbeth|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150520013619/http://www.modernsilver.com/winifredmason.html|archive-date = 2015-05-20|url-status = dead}}</ref>
 == Style ==
 [[File:Galaxy Necklace, ca. 1962.jpg|thumb|Galaxy Necklace, ca. 1962, from the collection of the [[Brooklyn Museum]]]]
 [[File:Art Smith "modern cuff" bracelet on model.jpg|thumb|Model wearing a Smith bracelet designed c. 1948]]
-Smith's jewelry has been described as:<blockquote>Inspired by surrealism, biomorphicism, and primitivism ... dynamic in its size and form.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>Many of his pieces were designed to be worn by avant-garde dancers, which influenced his style. The pieces were often large. Of his own work, he said:<blockquote>A piece of jewelry is in a sense an object that is not complete in itself. Jewelry is a ‘what is it?’ until you relate it to the body. The body is a component in design just as air and space are. Like line, form, and color, the body is a material to work with. It is one of the basic inspirations in creating form.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Review: From the Village to Vogue, The Modernist Jewelry of Art Smith|url = http://www.modernsilver.com/villagetovogue/villagetovogue.htm|website = Modern Silver|accessdate = 2015-10-18|last = Schrieber|first = Fran}}</ref></blockquote>[[Alexander Calder]] was also an influence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/497596|title=Art Smith {{!}} Necklace|last=|first=|date=|website=The Metropolitan Museum of Art|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2017-02-12}}</ref>
+Smith's jewelry has been described as:<blockquote>Inspired by surrealism, biomorphicism, and primitivism ... dynamic in its size and form.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>Many of his pieces were designed to be worn by avant-garde dancers, which influenced his style. The pieces were often large. Of his own work, he said:<blockquote>A piece of jewelry is in a sense an object that is not complete in itself. Jewelry is a ‘what is it?’ until you relate it to the body. The body is a component in design just as air and space are. Like line, form, and color, the body is a material to work with. It is one of the basic inspirations in creating form.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Review: From the Village to Vogue, The Modernist Jewelry of Art Smith|url = http://www.modernsilver.com/villagetovogue/villagetovogue.htm|website = Modern Silver|accessdate = 2015-10-18|last = Schrieber|first = Fran|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151113053653/http://www.modernsilver.com/villagetovogue/villagetovogue.htm|archive-date = 2015-11-13|url-status = dead}}</ref></blockquote>[[Alexander Calder]] was also an influence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/497596|title=Art Smith {{!}} Necklace|website=The Metropolitan Museum of Art|access-date=2017-02-12}}</ref> Smith was friend and contemporary to many in the downtown New York City arts and fashion scene, such as sandal maker Barbara Shaum and Knobkerry's [[Sara Penn]].<ref>{{cite book |last1= Kitto|first1= Svetlana|author-link= |date= 2022 |title= Sara Penn's Knobkerry: An Oral History Sourcebook|url= http://www.sculpture-center.org/publications/13233/sara-penn-s-knobkerry-an-oral-history-sourcebook|location= Long Island City, NY|publisher= [[SculptureCenter]]|page= |isbn=978-1-7377186-0-4}}</ref>
 == Biography ==
 Smith was born in Cuba, after his parents emigrated there from Jamaica. They moved to New York City when he was three years old.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Art as Adornment: The Life and Work of Arthur George Smith|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=yKpUCwAAQBAJ|publisher = Outskirts Press|date = 2015-12-28|isbn = 9781478743156|language = en|first = Charles L.|last = Russell}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title = From the Village to Vogue: The Modernist Jewelry of Art Smith|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=O5KqNwAACAAJ|publisher = Brooklyn Museum|date = 2008-01-01|language = en}}</ref>
-As an adult, Smith worked in Manhattan's [[Greenwich Village]], running a shop there from 1946 until 1979 (shortly before his death). Smith was a gay Afro-Caribbean, and as a result was subject to attacks shortly after his store opened.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title = Catalog: From the Village to Vogue: The Modernist Jewelry of Art Smith|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=O5KqNwAACAAJ|publisher = Brooklyn Museum|date = 2008-01-01|chapter-url = http://artsmithjewelry.com/as20.html|chapter = Biography}}</ref> A fan of jazz and modern dance, he was personally acquainted with musicians of the period including [[Lena Horne]], [[Harry Belafonte]], and [[Talley Beatty]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title = Obituary: Art Smith|url = http://www.925-1000.com/amx_smithA.html|website = www.925-1000.com|accessdate = 2015-10-18|date = 1982-03-06|last = Tapley|first = Mel|publisher = New Amsterdam News}}</ref>
+As an adult, Smith worked in Manhattan's [[Greenwich Village]], running a shop there from 1946 until 1979 (shortly before his death). Smith was a gay Afro-Caribbean, and as a result was subject to attacks shortly after his store opened.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title = Catalog: From the Village to Vogue: The Modernist Jewelry of Art Smith|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=O5KqNwAACAAJ|publisher = Brooklyn Museum|date = 2008-01-01|chapter-url = http://artsmithjewelry.com/as20.html|chapter = Biography}}</ref> A fan of jazz and modern dance, he was personally acquainted with musicians of the period including [[Lena Horne]], [[Harry Belafonte]], [[Eartha Kitt]] and [[Talley Beatty]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title = Obituary: Art Smith|url = http://www.925-1000.com/amx_smithA.html|website = www.925-1000.com|accessdate = 2015-10-18|date = 1982-03-06|last = Tapley|first = Mel|publisher = New Amsterdam News}}</ref>
-Smith died in 1982 of heart disease.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=http://www.vnews.com/Articles/2016/03/From-Archives/ArtNotes-ns-vn-031016|title=Art Notes: Lebanon Resident’s Book Memorializes Pioneering Jewelry Designer’s Legacy|last=Smith|first=Nicola|date=2016-03-10|newspaper=Valley News|access-date=2017-02-12|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|work=|via=}}</ref>
+Smith died in 1982 of heart disease.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=http://www.vnews.com/Articles/2016/03/From-Archives/ArtNotes-ns-vn-031016|title=Art Notes: Lebanon Resident’s Book Memorializes Pioneering Jewelry Designer’s Legacy|last=Smith|first=Nicola|date=2016-03-10|newspaper=Valley News|access-date=2017-02-12}}</ref>
 == Exhibitions and holdings ==
-During his life, Smith's work was featured in Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, and exhibited at the [[Museum of Arts and Design|Museum of Contemporary Crafts]].<ref name=":1" /> Posthumously, Smith's work was the subject of an exhibition at the [[Brooklyn Museum]] in 2008-2011,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title = From the Village to Vogue: The Modernist Jewelry of Art Smith|url = https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/art_smith/|accessdate = 2015-10-18|publisher = Brooklyn Museum}}</ref> and is held in the permanent collection of the [[Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum|Cooper Hewitt Museum]], [[Museum of Arts and Design|Museum of Art and Design]], and [[Museum of Fine Arts, Boston|Boston Museum of Fine Arts]].<ref name="CH" /><ref>{{Cite web|title = Arthur Smith|url = http://collections.madmuseum.org/code/emuseum.asp?emu_action=searchrequest&moduleid=2&profile=people&currentrecord=1&searchdesc=Arthur%2520Smith&style=single&rawsearch=constituentid/,/is/,/1252/,/false/,/true|accessdate = 2015-10-18|publisher = Museum of Arts and Design Collection Database}}</ref>
+During his life, Smith's work was featured in Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, and exhibited at the [[Museum of Arts and Design|Museum of Contemporary Crafts]].<ref name=":1" /> Posthumously, Smith's work was the subject of an exhibition at the [[Brooklyn Museum]] in 2008-2011,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title = From the Village to Vogue: The Modernist Jewelry of Art Smith|url = https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/art_smith/|accessdate = 2015-10-18|publisher = Brooklyn Museum}}</ref> and is held in the permanent collection of the [[Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum|Cooper Hewitt Museum]], [[Museum of Arts and Design|Museum of Art and Design]], and [[Museum of Fine Arts, Boston|Boston Museum of Fine Arts]].<ref name="CH" /><ref>{{Cite web|title = Arthur Smith|url = http://collections.madmuseum.org/code/emuseum.asp?emu_action=searchrequest&moduleid=2&profile=people&currentrecord=1&searchdesc=Arthur%2520Smith&style=single&rawsearch=constituentid/,/is/,/1252/,/false/,/true|accessdate = 2015-10-18|publisher = Museum of Arts and Design Collection Database|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160624195551/http://collections.madmuseum.org/code/emuseum.asp?emu_action=searchrequest&moduleid=2&profile=people&currentrecord=1&searchdesc=Arthur%20Smith&style=single&rawsearch=constituentid%2F%2C%2Fis%2F%2C%2F1252%2F%2C%2Ffalse%2F%2C%2Ftrue|archive-date = 2016-06-24|url-status = dead}}</ref>
 One piece of Smith's sold for $22,000,<ref name=":2" /> and a cufflink collector told the New York Times that Smith's cufflinks were the most expensive pieces in his collection.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/22/arts/design/when-form-meets-function-cuff-links-throughout-the-centuries.html|title=When Form Meets Function: Cuff Links Throughout the Centuries|last=Kahn|first=Eve M.|date=2016-07-21|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=2017-02-13|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 * [http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/interviews/oral-history-interview-art-smith-11454 Oral history interview with Art Smith, 1971 August 24-31, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.]
 * [http://www.archivedauctions.com/s/301525/art-smith-diminishing-spirals/ Prices, and images, of Smith pieces sold at auction].
+{{Authority control}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Art}}
 [[Category:Cooper Union alumni]]
 [[Category:New York University alumni]]
-[[Category:American jewellers]]
+[[Category:20th-century American jewellers]]
 [[Category:1917 births]]
 [[Category:1982 deaths]]

Authority control databases
International	VIAF FAST
National	United States
Artists	ULAN KulturNav