ABOUT:
Lilith Smith is a visual artist who earned her MFA from the University of Cincinnati College of DAAP in 2012. Her artistic practice encompasses fabric installations, drawings, paintings, and video art.
Lilith has been showcased internationally in cities such as London, England; St. Petersburg, Russia; Brisbane, Australia, as well as in various venues across the United States. Currently, she serves as Full-Time Arts Faculty of Painting and Drawing at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, NE.
STATEMENT:
Central to my studio practice is the profound impact images wield in arresting and seducing viewers. In my work, I integrate vibrant hues, beaded embellishments, and tactile surfaces to beckon observers into immersive visual narratives often veiled in collaged motifs of intimacy. Simultaneously, my work reflects the intricate web of my own lived experiences as a woman of trans experience navigating the complexities of current culture articulated through a poetic language of abstraction.
CV
b. 1986
EDUCATION
2012 University of Cincinnati, College of Design, Architecture, Art & Planning, MFA - 2-D Studies
2010 Fairmont State University, Fairmont, WV - Magna Cum Laude - BA, BS, AS
EXHIBITION RECORD
Solo Exhibitions:
2025 Rib is a Shell, Heart is the Yolk - Graceland University, Lamoni, IA
2020 Of Origin And Longing - Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts, Lubbock, TX
2019 RAW PINK - Mantle Art Space, San Antonio, TX
2019 Fem Scapes - Illinois Central College - East Peoria IL
2016 Shimmer Guise - New Paintings by Lilith Smith - Mantle Art Space, San Antonio, TX
2015 Soft, Siphon, Swoon - New Paintings by Lilith Smith - Boom Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
2012 Touch Is Telling - DAAP MFA Thesis Exhibition - Sycamore Galleries, Cincinnati, OH
2012 Know Your Ghost - Pipeline Artist's Space, Cincinnati OH
2011 Sheddings - Works On Paper- Pipeline Artist's Space, Cincinnati, OH
2010 Bodies - James D. Brooks Gallery - Fairmont, WV
Invitational & Group Exhibitions:
2025 Underbelly - Curated by Britny Wainwright and Carolina Alamilla, Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, PA
2025 MCC Art Faculty Exhibition - Metropolitan Community College, Omaha, NE
2024 Empower Her: A Tribute to Female Strength - Curated by Jared Spence, Bluebarn Theater Gallery, Omaha, NE
2022 Curve / Core - Lilith Smith and Antonio Martinez, Metropolitan Community College, Omaha, NE
2022 Heaven, Hell, and Everything In-Between - Hot Shops Arts Center, Omaha, NE
2022 BODY - Pause Off Artist Space, Milford, OH
2022 Horizons - MCC Art Faculty Exhibition, Metropolitan Community College, Omaha, NE
2021 Immaterial - Curated by Michael Hubbard - McCormick Gallery, Midland College, Midland, TX
2020 WikiHow: How to Run for President - A Group Exhibition for Women Under 35, Charles Adams Studio Project: Studio 1, Lubbock, TX
2020 Shapeshifters - Curated by Joe Hedges - Terrain Gallery, Spokane, WA (online exhibition)
2020 Soften - Curated by June T Sanders and Krista Brand - Chase Gallery, Spokane, WA
2019 Being - Lease Agreement, Lubbock, TX
2019 59th Annual Faculty Exhibition - Gaddis Geeslin Gallery, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX
2018 Small Works - Curated by Sharon Louden - Trestle Gallery, Brooklyn NY
2017 Counterspell - New Work: Brian Hitselberger - {Poem 88} Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2017 Painting [Now] - Studio One Gallery - London, UK
2017 57th Annual Faculty Exhibition - Gaddis Geeslin Gallery - Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX
2016 Still Alive - Curated by Maria Seda-Reeder - Middletown Arts Center, Cincinnati, OH
2016 Fresh American Art - The Art Lab, St. Petersburg, Russia
2016 Engendering Identity: LGBTQ and U - Wash Park Art Gallery, Cincinnati OH
2016 The Big Reveal - The Art Academy of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
2015 Invitational Group w/ Joe Hedges and Cynthia Gregory - Annex Gallery, Charleston, WV
2015 So Hot Right Now - National Juried Exhibition - Step Gallery, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ
2015 Baby's Back - Works by Lindsey Henderson and Lilith Smith - Pear Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
2014 Here, In This Place - Mist Gallery - http://mistgallery.com - Juried Online Exhibition
2014 Totem - Curated by Greg Swiger and Corrina Mehiel, Boom Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
2014 Witching Hour – Invitational Group- Curated by Modern Makers and Emil Robinson, The Brownstone, Cincinnati, OH
2014 10x10 – Boom Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
2014 Faculty Exhibition – Art Institute of Ohio Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
2014 MAGENTA – Modern Makers/Niehoff Urban Studios, Cincinnati, OH
2014 Displaced 1 – Harvest Gallery, Cincinnati OH
2014 PIXXXEL: Sex & Technology – Boom Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
2013 FSU Fine Art Alumni Exhibition - Fairmont State University, Fairmont, WV
2013 Fernside Benefit Auction - Modern Makers - Niehoff Urban Studio, Cincinnati, OH
2013 Friends With Benefits - A Silent Auction - Museum Gallery/Gallery Museum, Cincinnati, OH
2012 Open For Business - Museum Gallery/Gallery Museum, Cincinnati, OH
2012 The Man Show - The Minute Gallery - Cincinnati, OH
2012 New Work - Elizabeth Herrin & Lilith Smith - 840 Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
2012 Stick That in Your Pipeline - Pipeline Artist's Space, Cincinnati OH
2011 The Romance Show - Museum Gallery/Gallery Museum, Cincinnati, OH
2011 A Very Drawing Show - 840 Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
2010 MFA Collaborative Exhibition - Pipeline Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
2010 Jennifer and Lynn Boggess - Teaching Artists - WV Culture Center, Charleston, WV
2010 Whetstone Evening - Fairmont State University - Fairmont, WV
2010 FSU Juried Exhibition - Fairmont State University - Fairmont, WV
2010 Social Injustice - Art in a time of Social Change - Juror: Mark Hosler - Marshall University, Huntington, WV
2010 Bare Form - Monongalia Arts Center - Morgantown, WV
2009 Celebration of Scholarship - Fairmont State University - Fairmont, WV
2009 FSU Juried Exhibition - Fairmont State University - Fairmont, WV
AWARDS/GRANTS/FELLOWSHIPS
- Outstanding Educator 2015 - Cincy Magazine
- Art Alumni of the Year - Fairmont State University - 2015
- University of Cincinnati University Graduate Scholarship Recipient + Assistantship – 2010-2012
- Wolfstein Travel Fellowship – $2,500 – London, England - 2011
- Excellence in Studio Art - Thirty-third Annual Academic Awards – Fairmont State University - 2010
- Blanche Kinney Fine Arts Scholarship Recipient
- Honorable Mention - Art in a Time of Social Change: Juried by Mark Hosler - Marshall University
- William White Scholarship Recipient
- James D. Brooks Memorial Scholarship Recipient
- Participation Enhancement Grant Recipient – Fairmont State University
- Deans Award - Juried Spring Exhibition – Fairmont State University - 2009
TEACHING
2021-Current:
Painting and Drawing Faculty (Full-Time) - Instructor of Arts (painting, drawing, 2-D design) - Metropolitan Community College, Omaha NE
2019-2020:
Visiting Asst. Professor of Art (Painting) - Texas Tech University
2016-2019:
Full-Time Lecturer - Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas
2014-2016:
Full-Time Instructor of Design (Photography) - Art Institute of Ohio, Cincinnati
2013:
Adjunct Instructor - Digital Photography - Art Institute of Ohio, Cincinnati
2011-2012:
Instructor on Record - University of Cincinnati, DAAP
PUBLICATIONS
“On Ledges.” Boston Accent Lit. October 2017.
Drout, Julie. "Integrations: Absence, Presence" CVSN - Field Guide to Color, Special Collections Press: University of Cincinnati, 2016. p. 118.
Smith, Lilith. “Ruby Song” and “Motherings.”Fresh Paint Magazine, Vol. 8, August 2015. pp. 36-37.
“Love Dust.”Dialogist. July 2015, 2(6).
“Xenia,” For a Better World: Poems and Drawings on Peace and Justice. Ghosn, Saad, ed. Ghosn Publishing: Cincinnati, 2014.
“Know Your Ghost.” Common Practise. March 2014.
Tucker, Ashton. “Touch is Telling” University of Cincinnati MFA Thesis Catalogue, 2012.
“Withdrawal.” Whetstone Journal - 2010.
PRESS
Of Origin and Longing: Mica Lilith Smith at LHUCA - Review by Natalie Hegert - July 2020
I Like Your Work Studio Visit - Artist: Lilith Smith - November 2019
Fresh Contemporary Digest: Mica Smith - May 2017
The Idea Foundation: Lilith Smith - November 2016
Final Friday Podcast : Lilith Smith Loves Mary Heilmann - September 2016
Introducing Lilith Smith | TWFineArt - May 2016
Lilith Smith: New Work - April 2016
AEQAI - Engendering Identity: LGBTQ & U at Wash Park Gallery - March 2016
Fresh Paint Magazine Blog - Lilith Smith - January 2016
Final Friday Podcast - Interview with Lilith Smith - August 2015
AEQAI - Puppet Show: “Baby’s Back: Lindsey Henderson and Lilith Smith” at Pear Gallery - March 2015
Lilith Smith : Artist - The Nice Niche - March 2015
MIST GALLERY - Highlights of 2014 - December 2014
MIST GALLERY - Interview - December 2014
Hyper Allergic Labs - October 2013
