Dianne Smith  Art   

Selected Group Exhibitions

2024    When the Tropics Are Quiet, Garner Art Center, Garner, NY. Curated by Vladimir Cybil.

Sky’s the limit: Music is My Resistance”, Billie Holiday Theatre, Brooklyn, NY.

2023    Uptown Triennial 2023, Wallach Art Gallery, Columbia University, New York City.

2022    Visions for our Future; Echoes of our Past: Dianne Smith, Nyugen E. Smith, and Carl Joe Williams, The Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art & Design, Portland, ME. Curated by Jordia Benjamin and Ashley Page. 

            Material/Material, In collaboration with National Academy of Design and Materials for the Arts, Governors Island, NY.

2021    The Way We Remember, Curated by Holger A. Klein, Lisa and Bernard Selz Professor of

            Medieval Art History, The Wallach Art Gallery, Columbia University, New York City.

            Dionne Warwick : Queen of Twitter, Newark Arts Festival, Hahn & Co, Newark, Showing Out: Fashion in Harlem, Schomburg Center For Research in Black Culture, Harlem, NY.

           The Meeting Point, 2 Gansevort, Curated by Danny Baez, of ARTNOIR and Regular Normal, New York City.

2020    Uptown Triennial 2020, Wallach Art Gallery, Columbia University, New York City.

Unbought & Unbossed: Reclaiming Our Vote, Go Tell It on The Mountain, National    Black Theatre, New York City.

St. Marks Afternoon, Printed Matter St. Marks, EFA Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop in Participation with Housing Gallery Screening, New York City.

Creative Climate Awards, Human Impact Institute, Brooklyn, NY.

Styling: Black Expression, Rebellion, and Joy Through Fashion, Nordstrom NYC, in partnership with Long Gallery Harlem, New York City, Curated by Souleo.

2018    I found God in Myself, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit, MI. Curated by Souleo.

Early Encounters, Colonels Row 404, Governors Island, NY. Curated by Savona Bailey    McClain.

100 Works, Electropositive, Brooklyn, NY. Guided by Derrick Adams and curator Oshun Layne.

2017    I found God in Myself, City Without Walls, Newark, NJ. Curated by Souleo.

            I found God in Myself, Houston Museum of African American Culture, Houston, TX.   Curated by Souleo.

2016    I found God in Myself, The African American Museum in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. Curated by Souleo.

2015    The 21st Century Artist is a Nomad, I Wonder as I Wander, Flux Art Fair, New York City. Curated by Leanne Stella.

2014    I found God in Myself, Schomburg Center for Research In Black Culture, New York   City. Curated by Souleo.

2012    Afro Syllogisms, Transformers: A Coiled Potential, Atewlierhof Kruezberr, Berlin,  

           Germany.

“Romare Bearden: 20th Century American Master”, A Project of the Romare Bearden Foundation. Developed and produced by Full Spectrum Experience, Inc, New York City. Curated by Danny Simmons and Brian Tate.

2011    Collaborations: Two Decades of Excellence, The Delta Cultural Center, 

Helena, Arkansas. Curated by Garbo Hearne.

2010    Dash Gallery, New York City. Curated by Alaina Simone.

Woman’s Work: 20 Emerging and Mid-Career Artists, Avisca Fine Art, Marrietta, Georgia.

Stand Up II: Individualism in a Collective State, New York City, Tilford Art 

Curated by Terrell Tilford.

Collaborations: Two Decades of Excellence, South Arkansas Arts Center in 

El Dorado, Arkansas.

2009    Collaborations: Two Decades of Excellence, Chattanooga African American 

Museum. Curated by Garbo Hearne.

2008    Collaborations: Two Decades of Excellence, Pyramid/Hearne Fine Art: 

1998-2008, Little Rock, Arkansas. Curated by Garbo Hearne.

           Daughters of The Diaspora, Hearne Fine Art, Little Rock, Arkansas. 

Curated by Garbo Hearne.

2006    Harmony Designs, Mount Vernon, New York.

           Abstract Artist, Johnson-Byrd Gallery, New York City.

Abstract Expressionism: A Sublime Experience, West Harlem Art Fund, Russ Berrie Medical Science Pavilion, New York City. Curated by Savona 

Bailey McClain.

            Abstraction, Corridor Gallery, Brooklyn, New York. Curated by Danny Simmons.

Tilford Art Group, Los Angeles, California. Curated by Terrell Tilford.

2005    Art Show, Colours Fine Art, New York City. Asake Bomani and Leslie Powell.

           Hearne Fine Art, Little Rock, Arkansas. Curated by Garbo Hearne.

           Artjaz Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Arterior, Contemporary African, Caribbean and Latin American Art, Off        

            The Main, New York City, Curated by Leslie Powell.

2004    National Black Fine Art Show, Kenkeleba Gallery, New York City.

            allu’sion, Rongio Gallery, Brooklyn, NY.

2003    Celebrating Black Women Visual Artist of the 21st Century, 

           Los Angeles, California. Curated by Terrell Tilford.

Rush Fine Arts, New York City. Curated by Danny Simmons

Unbroken, Celebrating Black History, The Art Center of Northern New 

          Jersey, New Milford, NJ, Curated by Carol Simms.

            National Black Fine Arts Show, UFA Gallery, New York City, Curated by Carol Simms.

2002    No Greater Love: Abstraction, Jack Tilton Gallery, New York City, Curated by Jack   Tilton.

Myriad Eyes, Women in Photography, SUNY Empire State College Metropolitan Center Gallery, New York City.

            Hearne Fine Art, Little Rock, Arkansas. Curated by Garbo Hearne.

            Believe, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Hackensack, New Jersey. Curated by Carol Sims.

            UFA Gallery, National Black Fine Arts Show, New York City. Curated by Carol Sims.

           NAC, Rush Fine Arts, New York City. Curated by Danny Simmons.

           Museum of Contemporary African Diaspora Art (MOCADA), Brooklyn, NY.

2001   NAC, The Center for Arts & Culture, Skylight Gallery, Brooklyn, New York.

           Museum of Contemporary African Diaspora Art (MOCADA), Brooklyn, 

           NY, Gale-Martin Gallery, New York City.

2000    Celebrating Black History Month, The Art Center of Northern New Jersey, 

           New Milford, NJ.

           Celebrating Black History Month, Bergen Regional Medical Center, Paramus, NJ.

           Women in the Arts, Simone’s Gallery, Pelham, NY.

           City Hall, Mount Vernon, New York. 

           COLOR, Chicago Black Fine Arts Show, Gale-Martin Gallery, Chicago, IL.

           Iandor Fine Art, Newark, New Jersey. Curated by Tarin Fuller. 

           UFA Gallery, New York City. Curated by Carol Sims.

           Gale-Martin Gallery, New York City.

1999   Entitled: Black Women Artist at The Skylight Gallery, Center For Arts & 

Culture, Brooklyn, New York.

Ain’t No Figuring (Abstraction), Corridor Gallery, Brooklyn, New York. Curated by Danny Simmons.

Select Public Art & Installations

2024    Echoes of the Path, Harlem Sculpture Garden, St. Nicholas Park, The West Harlem 

            Art Fund, New York City.

2021   Black is Beautiful, Video Projection, Portland, ME.

2020    Black Lives Matter Street Mural Harlem, Harlem, NY.

            Uptown Parade Photo installation, Uber Eats and Urban Umbrella, Harlem, NY.

2015   Flash, Synched: Under the Viaduct, The West Harlem Art Fund, New York City.

           Tug of War, Under the Viaduct, The West Harlem Art Fund, New York City.

2013.  Dazzle, Play Lab, The West Harlem Art Fund, New York City.

          No Limits, Harrison Museum of African American Culture, Roanoke, VA.

          Organic Abstract, Bartow-Pell Mansion, The West Harlem Art Fund, Bronx, NY.

Connections, Select Art Fair, Art Basel Miami, Miami, Florida.

2011    Loosely Coupled, The West Harlem Art Fund, Governor’s Island, New York City.

            Gumboot Juba, The West Harlem Art Fund, Armory Arts Week, New York City.

2009    Remix/Repurpose, PARK(ING) Day NYC, West Harlem Art Fund, New York City.

Productions

2024    Costume and Scenic Design, Some Sing, A Juneteenth Celebration, Curated by Carl Hancock Rux, Featuring Performances By influential free jazz experimentalist Cooper-Moore, Bronx-born soul musician Stephanie McKay, and others, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, New York City.

2023    Costume and Scenic Design, To a Garden Luxuriously Verdant (Enameled with Countless Flowerings) A Juneteenth Celebration) Curated and Art Directed by Carl Hancock Rux

Featuring Performances by Aaron Diehl, Alicia Hall Moran, Martha Redbone, Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber with special guests Vernon Reid & DJ Logic, Morley Kamen with music by Chris Bruce, and Ronald K. Brown / EVIDENCE, New York City.

Scenic Design, Making Space at the Armory Hapo Na Zamani (Black Arts

Movement Past and Present), New York City.

Costume and Scenic Design, Billie Holiday Theatre, Hinds Feet in High Places: A Juneteenth Celebration.”

2022    Costume and Scenic Design, I Dream a Dream That Dreams Back at Me: A Juneteenth Celebration, Curated by Carl Hancock Rux, Featuring Nona Hendryx, Vernon Reid, Étienne Lashley and The Collective, Gordon Chambers, and Kiki Hawkins, Original Lyrics by Lynn Nottage, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, New York City.

            Costume Design, The Vicksburg Project, Mabou Mines, and Piece by Piece Productions, conceived by Eve Beglarian in Collaboration with Karen Kandel and Mallory Catlett, New York City. 

2021    Costume Design, I Dream a Dream That Dreams Back at Me: A Juneteenth Celebration, Curated by Carl Hancock Rux, Featuring Nona Hendryx, Kimberly Nicole, Vernon Reid, Helga Davis and Toshi Reagon & BIG Lovely, Original Lyrics by Lynn Nottage, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, New York City.

Costume Design, CROSSROADS: The Watermill Center’s Summer Festival, led by Carrie Mae Weems, in collaboration with Robert Wilson, Watermill, NY.

2019   Set Design, A Walk Into Slavery, directed by Dr. Indira Etwaroo, Director of the Billie Holiday Theatre, Brooklyn, NY. 

Select Awards and Commission

New York Council on the Arts, NYSCA FY25 Grantee, 2024.

Nancy Graves Foundation Awards Grant Recipient, New York City, 2021.

I Dream a World, Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art @ The Enclave, New York City, 2016.

Public Art, Festval de Artes al Aire Libre, Museo Municipal de Guayaquil- Ecuador, Fulbright, 2013.

Select Residencies

The Last Resort Artist Residency, Baltimore, MD, 2024.

National Academy of Design, Artist in Residence, Governors Island, NY, 2022. 

Indigo Arts Alliance, Artist in Residence, Portland, ME, Spring 2021.

Wave Hill Winter Workspace Program, Artist in Residence, Bronx, NY, Winter 2021.

Susquehanna Art Museum, Visiting Artist, Harrisburg, PA, 2018.

Materials for The Arts, Artist in Residence, Long Island City, NY, 2017.

Allentown Art Museum, Pennsylvania Council of the Arts Long Term Residency, Allentown, PA, 2016.

Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop SIP Fellowship, New York, NY, 2015.

School of Visual Arts Residency, Painting and Mixed Media, New York City, 2008.

Private Collections Include

Dianne Smith Papers Barnard Archives and Special Collections, The National Museum of Women in the Arts, The Brodsky Organization, Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African American Art, Danny Simmons, Vivica A. Fox, the late Rev. Dr. & Mrs. Calvin O. Butts, III, Terry McMillan, George Faison, Tasha Smith, Asake Bomani, Reginald Van Lee, and the late Dr. Maya Angelou, Arthur Mitchell and Cicely Tyson.

Select Lectures/Panels/Artist Talks

Panelist, Uptown Triennial 2023, The incorporation of the sonic into their visual art and/or media works, Artists Ivan Forde, Kathleen Granados, Carlos Jesus Martinez- Dominguez/FEEGZ, Carl Hancock Rux, and Dianne Smith Moderated by Wallach Gallery Director and Chief Curator Betti-Sue Hertz, 2023.

Panelist, Pathways for Dialogue: Past, Present, Future, Artist Talk Featuring Dianne Smith & Tim McFarlane, Moderated by Nicole Moore, 2023

Panelist, Pathways for Dialogue: The role of institutions in uplifting the work of African American Artists, Kimberli Gant, Dianne Smith, and Brittany Webb, Moderated by Susanna Gold, s, 2023.

Panelist, Invisible No More, International Sculpture Conference, New York City, 2021.

Panelist, Unbought & Unbossed A conversation: Part 3, National Black Theatre, New York City, 2020.

Panelist, Twisted, Woven, Tied, Art & Activism: Nourishing Conscious Communities, School of Visual Arts School of Continuing Education, New York City, 2020.

Panelist, Harlem Renaissance 100 Virtual Salon: Styling, Harlem One Stop, New York City, 2020.

Panelist, Shuga & Wata, Black Figuration, Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African American Art, Asbury, NJ.

Co-Convener/moderator, The Wallach Art Gallery Columbia University, The Uptown People’s Assembly, New York City, 2020.

Panelist, Jill New House Gallery, A Rounded View: Artists of Color Discuss the Works of European Masters, New York City, 2020.

Lecture, Red Rooster Harlem, Art, Eat, Drink, Artist Talk Series, New York City, 2019.

Lecture, University of Montevallo, Living and Working as an Artist in New York City, Montevallo, AL, 2016.

Panelist, Silicone Harlem, The Digital Canvas: Next Generation Creative Artistry, New York City, 2015.

Panelist, NYC State of the Art Conference Panelist: What more can be done to facilitate NYC artists selling art?, New York City, 2010.

Moderator, Panel Discussion Longevity and Sustainability in a Global Market Place, Hearne Fine Art, 2008.

Lecture, Hearne Fine Art, Little Rock, Arkansas, 2007.

Lecture, Gay Men’s Health Crisis, New York City, 2006.

Lecture, UFA Gallery, New York, New York City, 2003.

Lecture, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Hackensack, New Jersey, 2002.

Lecture, Winston Salem State University, Winston Salem, North Carolina, 2002.

Lecture, Harlem Book Fair, New York City, 2001.

Teaching 

Adjunct Lecturer at City College of New York (CUNY) Department of Teaching Learner and Culture, 2015.

The Center for Art Education, New York City, 2011.

Lincoln Center Education, New York City, 2005-2015.

Professional

Director of Public Engagement, Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, PA, 2016 – 19.

Education

Transart Institute, Via Plymouth University, UK, Master’s in Creative Practice (MFA), Berlin, Germany, 2012.

    Thesis: Trash Class, Consumption and The Politics of Race

Fashion Institute of Technology, New York City, 1985 - 86.

Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, California, 1983 - 84.

Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art, New York City, 1983.

Bibliography

Barnett, Malene. Crafted Kinship : Inside the Creative Practices of Contemporary Black Caribbean Makers. Artisan Books, October2024.

Beasley, Myron. Performance, Art and Politics in the African Diaspora : Necropolitics and the Black Body. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2023.

Smith, Dianne. Homecoming, the Art of Danny Simmons, The Rush of Possibilities (Essay), Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning (JCAL), Queens, NY, 2022. 

Scarborough Klare et al. Shifting Time : African American Artists 2020-2021. Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African America Art 2022.

Smith, Dianne. “STUFF.” STUFF | Barnard Library, library.barnard.edu/stuff. 

Bowling, Suzanna. “What To Watch October 21st To Take Away The Blues.” Times Square Chronicles, 20 Oct. 2020, t2conline.com/what-to-watch-october-21st-to-take-away-the-blues/. 

“Flagship Nordstrom Store Puts Black Art Front and Center in New Exhibition.” Nordstrom Puts   Black Art Front and Center in New Exhibition, www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2020/09/23/flagship-nyc-nordstrom-store-puts-black-art-front-and-center-in-new-exhibition.

Patterson, William. Twisted, Woven, Tied, Artist Dianne Smith Makes New Art with Used

Materials. 13 Sept. 2020, sva.edu/blog/continuing-education/twisted-woven-tied. 

“Bagels and Broadway 9-12-20 (Art & Activism Special) - Bagels and Broadway with Valerie Smaldone.” Enterprise Podcasting Made Simple - Omny.fm, omny.fm/shows/bagels-and-broadway-with-valerie-smaldone/bagels-and-broadway-9-12-20-september-11th-special. “Work Begins on Black Lives Matter Street Mural in Harlem.” ABC7 New York, WABC-TV, 4 July 2020, abc7ny.com/black-lives-matter-symbol-of-hate-mural-in-nyc-trump-calls-a-fifth-avenue/6295085/.

Smith, Dianne. “UPTOWN PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY: FACING THE RAGING PANDEMICS.” Wallach Art Gallery | Columbia University, 12 June 2020, wallach.columbia.edu/events/uptown-peoples-assembly-facing-raging-pandemics.“A Rounded View: Artists of Color Discuss the Works of European Masters.” ArtfixDaily, http://www.artfixdaily.com/artwire/release/1098-a-rounded-view-artists-of-color-discuss-the-works-of-european-mas, 2020.

“Celebrating a Powerful Legacy: Martin Luther King Jr. Events in the Lehigh Valley.” Mcall.com, 18 Jan. 2019, www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-ent-martin-luther-king-day-lehigh-valley-20190108-story.html.

Rachel Midey, Domestic Violence Survivor Turns Abuse into Art in Harlem, www.newyorkminutemag.com, 2017.

Naeisha Rose, Material for the Arts offers recycled materials throughout NYC, www.timesledger.com, 2017.

Miles, Kenneth, et al. “Kenneth Miles.” Brick City Live, Kenneth Miles Https://Brickcitylive.com/Wp-Content/Uploads/2018/07/Brick-City-Live-Logo-White-Red.png, 9 May 2019, brickcitylive.com/art/andaiye/dr-ntozake-shanges-seminal-work-gets-a-gallerys-worth-of-consideration-in-new-exhibit/.

Erickka Sy Savane, How Getting Physically Assaulted by An Ex-Boyfriend Led Dianne Smith To Create A Telling Work of Art, www.madamenoire.com, 2017

Maximilíano Durón, Columbia University Starts ‘Uptown’ Triennial for Artists Living and Working in Upper Manhattan, www.artnews.com, 2017. 

Molly Glentzer, Identity and inspiration on display in 'i found god in myself', www.houstonchronicle.com, 2017.

Erickka Sy Savane, Artist Dianne Smith’s Powerful Tribute To Ntozake Shange’s Poem, www.Ebony.com, 2017.

Erickka Sy Savane, How Dianne Smith Turned A Domestic Violence Incident Into Art, www.Essence.com, 2017.

Circa, This organization turns trash into incredible works of art, www.circa.com, 2017.

Alley Olivier, Tackling identity by using art, www.carribbeanlifenews.com, 2017.

Zachary Kussin, How to (almost) live at a museum, nypost.com, 2016.

Harry Fisher, PICTURES: Allentown Art Museum artist in residence Dianne Smith, www.themorningcall.com, 2016.

Tim Higgins, Dianne Smith's 'Intersections' exhibit: Telling stories of Allentown residents, www.themorningcall.com, 2016.

“PICTURES: Artist Dianne Smith's Exhibit Intersections at Allentown Art Museum.” Courant.com, Hartford Courant, 7 Oct. 2016, www.courant.com/mc-pictures-artist-dianne-smiths-exhibit-is-called-intersections-at-allentown-art-museum-20161007-photogallery.html. -exhibit-is-called-intersections-at-allentown-art-museum-20161007-photogallery.html.

Andrew LaSane, Harlem Will Host Its First Ever Contemporary Art Fair Next Week, www.complex.com, 2015.

Rodney, Seph, et al. “An Art Exhibition 'for Colored Girls'.” Hyperallergic, 1 Dec. 2014, hyperallergic.com/165337/an-art-exhibition-for-colored-girls/.

Henry Blaukopf, A People's History of Harlem: A Harlem Neighborhood Oral History Project, www.nypl.org, 2014

Shakur, By fayemi. “40 Years of 'for Colored Girls...':Loving Ntozake Shange Fiercely.” EBONY, 17 Dec. 2018, www.ebony.com/entertainment/40-years-of-for-colored-girls-loving-ntozake-shange-fiercely-400/.

Demetria Irwin, NYC’s Motown to Def Jam art exhibit celebrates the legacy of black music, www.thegrio.com, 2013.

Mike Allen, Race, history reflected in Harlem artist’s work, www.roanoke.com, 2013.

Rachel Feinstein, Artist Spotlight: Dianne Smith Knows How to Paper a Room, www.artsobserver, 2012.

Zagat Spotlight on Harlem, Clinton Foundation, Other Neighborhood Highlights, Arts and Entertainment, Dianne Smith Arts, 2009/2010.

Angie Hancock, The Virtuoso Dianne Smith, What’s New in Harlem, New York Living Magazine, February/March 2009. 

Elizabeth Fasolino, Contemporary Lessons, The East Hampton Star, July 2008.

Dianne Smith, Narrator’s View, Lincoln Center Institute, Picasso: What is the Artist’s Voice?, 2008.

Dianne Smith, Narrator’s View, Lincoln Center Institute, Mary Whalen: A Night Sonnet So Far, 2007.

Dianne Smith, Afterward Collaborations Two Decades of Excellence, Collaborations: Two Decades of African American Art, Hearne Fine Art Catalogue, 2008.

Open House NYC, NBC, LX-TV, New York City, 2008.

Lerone D. Wilson and Nonso Christian Ugbod, Boondoggle Films Documentary, Colored Frames, 2006.

New York Times, Harlem Celebrates, August 2006.

Essence Magazine, Living Well Home Special, September 2004.

Flo Wiley, WCHR-FM-90.3, City College Harlem Community Radio, New York, City, 2003.

Cheryl Washington, Good Day New York, New York City, 2002.

Ambrose Clancy, Washington Post, Life-Styles In Harlem, Washington, District of Columbia, 2002.

Soho Art Journal, New York City, 2002.

Cheryl Washington, Channel 5 News, New York City, 2002.

Disappearing Acts, HBO & Adelphi Pictures, 2000.

Sunny Smith, Bronxnet Cable, Bronx, New York, 1996.

The Noel Scott Report, New York City, January 1995.

Di Smith’s “Lips and Hips” on Display, The New York Beacon, New York City, February 1995.

Charles Rogers, Different Stages The New York Amsterdam News, February 1995.

Charles E. Rogers, Di Smith’s “Unmasked Lips”, Different Stages The New York Amsterdam News, March1995.

“Art in Motion”, The New York Amsterdam News, June 1995.

The City Sun, “Unmasked Lips & revealing Hips”, New York City, 1995.

Barbara Fenton, Tell Me Something Good, Manhattan Cable, New York City, 1995.

WBCR, Brooklyn College Radio, Brooklyn, New York, 1995.