Howard Smith (designer)
American-born Finnish artist and designer (1928–2021)
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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.
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 |
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]