Howard Smith (designer)
Howard Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 17, 1928 Moorestown, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | February 4, 2021 (aged 92) Fiskars, Uusimaa, Finland |
| Education | Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts |
| Occupations | Ceramicist, designer, multidisciplinary visual artist, educator |
| Known for | Ceramics, textile design, sculpture, assemblage art, collage, quilts, paintings, silkscreen prints |
| Spouse | Erna Aaltonen |
| Awards | Finnish State Prize for Design (2001) |
| Website | howardsmith |
Howard Smith (April 17, 1928 – February 4, 2021) was an American-born Finnish designer, ceramicist, multidisciplinary visual artist, and educator. Additionally he had worked a textile designer, sculptor, assemblage artist, collagist, quilter, painter, and serigrapher.[1] Smith was one of only a handful of Black post-war designers, and his textiles and ceramics were produced by Scandinavia’s top design firms.
Early life and education
Howard Smith was born on April 17, 1928, in Moorestown, New Jersey.[2][3][4] Smith served from 1949 to 1958 in the United States Army, stationed in Europe.[1][5] He attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia from 1960 until 1962.[5]
Career
Smith's artwork felt out of place with the Black art world in the United States.[6] In 1962, Smith was invited to participate in a cultural festival in Helsinki called, "Young America Presents", and unbeknownst to him hosted by the Central Intelligence Agency.[2][6] He joined a community of designers and creatives in Finland, including Antti Nurmesniemi and Vuokko Nurmesniemi, Marimekko founder Armi Ratia, and architect Juhani Pallasmaa.[5] In Finland, Smith was one of the only Black artists.[6]
Smith worked producing houseware and textiles for the Vallila Interiors brand, and designed dishes and decorative ceramic sculptures for Arabia.[1][7] While working at Arabia he met artist Erna Aaltonen, whom he would later marry.[8]
In 1976, Smith moved to Los Angeles, with the support of Samella Lewis.[1] While living in Los Angeles, he worked as a lecturer at Scripps College in Claremont.[5] He returned to Finland in 1984.[1]
From 1988 to 1995, Smith and Erna Aaltonen produced studio ceramics in Tervakoski under the name Arteos.[9] The couple moved in 1996 to Fiskars, Uusimaa, Finland, and worked independently. In 2001, Smith was awarded the Finnish State Prize for Design.[4]
Death and legacy
Smith died at age 92 on February 4, 2021, in his home in Fiskars.[3][4][5]
His work can be found in museum collections, including at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA),[5] the Espoo Museum of Modern Art, and at the Finnish National Gallery.[10] A retrospective of his work, The Art and Design of Howard Smith (2025–2026), was held at the Palm Springs Art Museum in California.[11]
References
- ^ a b c d e Liberty, Megan N. (July 2, 2025). "The Art and Design of Howard Smith". The Brooklyn Rail. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
- ^ a b Miranda, Carolina A. (March 24, 2025). "The CIA and the Collagist". Alta Online.
- ^ a b "Design Stories: Howard Smith was a boundless creative experimenter". Finnish Design Shop. Avotakka. February 4, 2025. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
- ^ a b c Kartastenpää, Tero (February 8, 2021). "CIA:n lähettämänä Suomeen kotiutunut kuvataiteilija ja muotoilija Howard Smith on kuollut 92-vuotiaana – "Iso menetys, todellinen ikoni"" [Visual artist and designer Howard Smith, who was sent to Finland by the CIA, has died at the age of 92 – "A great loss, a true icon"]. Helsingin Sanomat (HS) (in Finnish). Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f Tigerman, Bobbye (February 23, 2021). "In Memoriam: Howard Smith". Unframed. LACMA. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
- ^ a b c Rader, Dan (September 29, 2025). "The Black American Artist Who Found Himself in Finland". Hyperallergic. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
- ^ Kaizu, Meg (April 7, 2025). "The Paintings of "Nordic Utopia?"". The Advocate. CUNY Doctoral and Graduate Students’ Council (DGSC). Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ^ Stocker, Carol (May 16, 2004). "Immerse Yourself: Finland". The Boston Globe. pp. 207, 220, 221 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Erna Aaltonen". KWUM.
- ^ "Liikkumattomia tanssijoita / Motionless Dancers". HAM Helsinki Art Museum. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ^ Blueskye, Brian (February 6, 2025). "Palm Springs Art Museum to spotlight Black artist Howard Smith in Modernism Week talk, May exhibit". The Desert Sun. Retrieved February 18, 2026.