Gary Ernest Smith

"Early Morning"

2022

Realist painter Gary Ernest Smith often gets compared to Regionalist artists like Thomas Hart Benton and Grant Wood, in their shared affection for depicting wide swaths of land and rural characters. The American West’s rocky canyons, deserts and pastures come to life on the canvas through a level of stark realism that’s devoid of pretense or extravagance. Smith's art reflects life, the land and hard work in a way that brings the viewer closer and builds appreciation for the subject.

Born in rural Oregon, Smith took to art at a very young age. His parents fostered his talent, giving him the freedom to follow his vision. Before he was out of high school, Smith had sold a number of his paintings and later worked at an art gallery owned by his aunt. 

Smith attended Eastern Oregon College, earning a bachelor's degree in fine art. He went on to pursue graduate school, but the military drafted him for service during the Vietnam War before he could finish. After his military deployment, he studied at Brigham Young University, where he finally received his master’s degree.

Smith's work began to receive national attention in the early 1980s and was soon displaying his work at galleries and museums around the country. Notable museums — such as the Brooklyn Museum of Art and the Phoenix Museum of Art — have displayed his work, and his pieces belong to private collections around the world. In the late 1990s, writer Donal Hagerty published a book showcasing Smith's work, titled Holding Ground: the Art of Gary Ernest Smith.

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Smith has painted religious-themed murals and smaller projects for temples and churches throughout the world. Living in Utah with his wife, Judy, Smith remains a prolific creator of realist paintings and murals. 

Find original Gary Ernest Smith paintings on 1stDibs.