Draft:Angela K. Smith

Lincoln Mural

In 2023, Smith received an invitation to apply for a nationwide talent search for the town of Galesburg Illinois. Their Downtown Alliance was looking to add some local history by the way of art on one of their buildings. After checking several hundred applicants, Angie was selected ^[4][3]. She took 6 weeks from design to completion, and then spent another 2 weeks (delayed due to weather) to install the mural. The mural, entitled "Lincoln at Knox College" depicts the historic Lincoln Douglas debate at Knox College, and is currently displayed on the side of a building on the corner of Main Street and Cherry Street in Galesburg. The mural is painted on mural cloth (or mural canvas), not directly onto the brick covering the building's exterior. Per Smith, "[The mural cloth] is a non-woven fabric which is so thin that it really soaks up the acrylic paint. The first mural cloth murals were put up about 30 years ago, and they're still going strong. They actually do better than murals painted directly on the walls." ^[4] Murals painted directly to brick or other exterior building materials often fade quickly. This is due to the fact that the brick and other materials were not designed to hold paint in this manner. Additionally, dirt, debris, and other contaminants that cannot be fully cleared from the surface, further cause problems with the medium's longevity.

The mural is a massive 20 foot by 32 foot exhibit, and was installed with the help of scissor lifts 7 feet off the ground. ^[4][3] This was a mutual decision by Smith and the representative of the Downtown Alliance to avoid damage and vandalism, and to ensure the artwork remained in good condition for as long as possible. Galesburg representatives said they plan to install 10 to 20 other murals in the downtown area, and that they would welcome Smith back to complete a series of new murals, should her schedule allow. It maybe possible for Galesburg to see further murals from this artist as a result.

Jet Murals

Originally released in and around Historic Downtown Ogden (Ogden, Utah | Weber County, Utah) in celebration of Utah's "Trail to Pioneer Days," a number of horse statues with painted motifs have been commissioned in and now beyond Weber County. They also include statues in shapes not strictly limited to equine varieties. Among these newer statues is a fighter jet sculpture honoring "the bravery, dedication, and community spirit of our local firefighters and first responders." ^[9] These firefighters and first responders depecticted were from the North Davis Fire Station, in Clearfield, Utah. The sculpture's shape was selected as a nod to Hill Air Force Base, a US Air Base located within the same city boundaries as the statue was to be displayed. As of October 2025, the statue is currently displayed at the intersection of State Street and Center Street in Clearfield Utah.

In November 2024, Clearfield City and the Lotus Group commissioned another series of jets. These jets feature a "serene scene of a lotus and lily pad, symbolizing purity and rebirth, with two koi fish on each wing—one black, one white. ^[10] Smith said on the piece: "This project celebrates Clearfield City’s commitment to progress while honoring its cultural and natural heritage. The murals are meant to inspire a sense of calm and reflection, even as they pay tribute to the power and grace of flight." ^[10]

ILLUMINATE Salt Lake

In March 2025, Smith was asked to be a featured artist for Illuminate Salt Lake - Light Art and Creative Tech Festive at Salt Lake's Library Square near The Gateway outdoor mall. Illuminate is typically out on annually by the Utah Arts Alliance. ^{[11] [12] [13][14][15]} Her piece, "Unsuspecting Portal" was an interactive project and mural series was designed to revitalize the urban space. It used a trompe-l'œil technique, more commonly know as optical illusion, to make the flat surfaces look like three-dimensional passages.

The piece was interactive, as was all of the art at the event, and featured a gateway that festival goers would enter, seeing themselves from all sides with the painted art displayed on their bodies and faces as if they were suddenly transported to another world.

Art Molecules

Smith currently runs Art Molecules Studio, based in Salt Lake City, but with countrywide mobility. ^{[16] [17][18]} From the numerous business profiles accessible to the public, the artist states. "I create impactful murals... My work is celebrated for its realistic imagery, bold color choices, and science-backed elements that drive social change." ^[17]

Salt Lake Magazine

In the July/August 2018 addition, Smith was featured as one of the "Best of the Beehive" in Salt Lake Magazine. ^[19] The article, titled Painting and Progress: Making the surreal real, Smith - going by Latchkey Art at the time - discusses her time as a surealist painter. "I wanted to learn how to pain the ideas in my mind, or my meditations. The unconscious mind is always doing its own thing, but every once in a while, something pops into my conscious."

From this article, we learn that Smith went to Utah Valley University on scholarship, studying under local artists such as Howard Lyon and Don Seegmiller. It discusses a time when she temporarily relocated in New York to study under elite visionary artist, Alex Grey and other contemporaries. ^[19]

Shoeholics Magazine

Shoeholics released their first issue for April-June/Spring in 2012. During this time, Smith was still modeling in order to fund her artistic career. She was the featured cover model for the Spring Fever issue. Later, Shoeholics Magazine received the honor of being showcased on a billboard in New York's infamous Times Square. As a result, Smith was a featured covered model on a billboard in Times Square. This is often considered a crowning achievement in a modeling or a publication's career. ^[7]

Utah Art Magazine

In the 2000s, the print, but now mostly online based Utah Art Magazine featured smith in ther "Artists of Utah" profile.^[5]