Howard Smith, an African-American artist, designer and collector was born April 17, 1928 in Moorestown, New Jersey, USA. Throughout his career he lived in Finland with exception of 1976-1984 after being invited to teach at Scripps College at Claremont, California, USA.

In his early adulthood, Smith served with U.S. occupying forces in post-war Japan, Korea, and Germany. After his service, he briefly studied at the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts. Smith came to Finland in 1962 when he co-organized an international youth exhibition of American artists.

Within a year he mounted the first show of his own at Matti Viherjuuri’s Galleria Pinx. Attracted to the signature 'less is more' Finnish design aesthetic, tradition of able craft and the hand-wroutht object, he soon won respect of wide circle of Finnish artists, architects and designers among them Kaj Frank, Aarno Ruusuvuori, Juhani Pallasmaa, Yrjö Sotamaa, and the Nurmesniemi’s, Antti and Vuokko.

curriculum vitae

Howard Smith worked with paper, pigments, wood, clay, textiles and metal. He designed for industry—e.g. printed textiles for Vallila, tableware and interior items for Arabia (the esteemed ceramics factory in Helsinki). He planned interior designs for corporate offices, public buildings and cruise ships. He especially enjoyed recycling items like scrap metal, used cardboard, castoff clothing–which he took and created into whimsical compositions.

Howard Smith’s work -displays an exuberance and generosity characteristic too of the man. It is immediately recognisable for bold gestures in line, plane and mass, its rich colors and its contrapuntal contrasts in material and form. Much of what he called ‘glyphs’ vibrant figures that often suggest the human form in posture of celebration.

Howard Smith was awarded the Finnish State Design Prize in 2001 and the State Artist's Pension in 2003. His works can be found in several museum collections in Finland and in USA E.g. Finlands National Gallery Ateneum Art Museum, EMMA Espoo Museum of Modern Art, Museum of African-American Art Los Angeles and Museum of Modern Art, New York.

The great paradox of his final years was that, after opening the eyes of so many through his work and varied collections, he was blinded by glaucoma. Undaunted, he continued to work by sense of touch.

Howard Smith died at home in Fiskars, Finland February 4, 2021 aged 92.

Photograph of Ceramic jar by Howard Smith
Ceramic jar
1989 
Photograph of Mörby series 1 by Howard Smith
Mörby series 1
early 2000's 
Photograph of Relief with foot by Howard Smith
Relief with foot
early 2000's 
Photograph of Sculptures of steel by Howard Smith
Sculptures of steel
2006 
Photograph of Wood relief by Howard Smith
Wood relief
early 2000's 
Photograph of Three Figures by Howard Smith
Three Figures
 
Photograph of Hello by Howard Smith
Hello
 
Photograph of Gust of Wind by Howard Smith
Gust of Wind
 
Photograph of Ceramic wall relief by Howard Smith
Ceramic wall relief
1987 
Photograph of Hat mask by Howard Smith
Hat mask
2008 
Photograph of Ceramic jar by Howard Smith Ceramic jar, year: 1989
Ceramic jar, 1989, hand-built stoneware, photo Johnny Korkman
Photograph of Mörby series 1 by Howard Smith Mörby series 1, year: early 2000's
Photo Timo Kauppila
Photograph of Relief with foot by Howard Smith Relief with foot, year: early 2000's
Acrylic painted wood, early 2000's, photo Timo Kauppila
Photograph of Sculptures of steel by Howard Smith Sculptures of steel, year: 2006
Sculptures of steel, 2006, photo Timo Kauppila
Photograph of Wood relief by Howard Smith Wood relief, year: early 2000's
Wood relief, early 2000's, 55x80 cm, photo Timo Kauppila
Photograph of Three Figures by Howard Smith Three Figures
Photograph of Hello by Howard Smith Hello
Paper-cut, photo Timo Kauppila
Photograph of Gust of Wind by Howard Smith Gust of Wind
Paper cut, photo Timo Kauppila
Photograph of Ceramic wall relief by Howard Smith Ceramic wall relief, year: 1987
glazed stoneware, photo Timo Kauppila
Photograph of Hat mask by Howard Smith Hat mask, year: 2008
Exhibition in Fiskars, 2008, photo Timo Kauppila