Vincent Smith (American, 1929-2003) was a Brooklyn native who pushed for the creation of art that served a lasting social purpose. His work is visually inspired by his love of music and the lively jazz club scene which he was immersed in a young man in New York, as well as the African art he discovered on his travels abroad later in life. Primarily serving as a visual document of the racial upheaval, violence, and poverty that were taking place around him in the 50s, 60s, and 70s, his work is known for its expressive, abstract figures, and highly emotive, dark, patterned backgrounds. At other times, however, it can be a playful, even comedic celebration of the energy, music and people of the urban black world that Smith knew well, and that formed the bedrock behind much of American culture. Smith did not decide to become a fulltime painter until 1953, after being powerfully inspired by a Cezanne exhibition he attended at the Museum of Modern Art. Previously, he had dropped out of high school to travel the country—hopping trains and working on the railroad in the south, before joining the army, and later returning to New York City to work for the postal service. He would go on to take classes at the Brooklyn Museum Art School and Skowhegan School of Painting in Maine, ultimately earning his college degree from the State University of New York, Saratoga, at the age of 50. As an artist, teacher, and informed student of art history, Smith’s work is a reflection of his desire to share his experience of black culture with the world—thus changing the white washed art historical narrative. He continued this work throughout his life, helping to curate exhibitions of black artists, and facilitating dialogue between black artists of many disciplines. Smith died in 2003 at the age of 75.