Enid Smiley

Ventian Courtyard

1950's

Enid Smiley born as Enid Ginsberg and later the family name changed to Gilbert. Attended Yale University and found herself designing costumes for plays and operas. In the late 1930s, Smiley approached Macy's, Bloomingdales and other famous New York retailers soliciting her artistic talents. Began visiting Venice Italy in the 1940s. Schooled with Guido Cadorin in Venice and Raphael Soyer in New York. Smiley and her husband became best friends with John and Dora Koch. They are noted in John’s famous painting Cocktail Party. The two couples frequented each other home for dinner gatherings of other famous artists and professionals. Smiley secured a studio overlooking Central Park for several decades. Her artistic style and subjects reflect her natural affection to be alone in her studio and her life. John Koch was instrumental in motivating Smiley over the years to continue to hone her painting skills. Smiley was hesitant throughout her life to exhibit her work. John Koch over years occasionally dropped by Smiley's studio to purchase her oil paintings for his own collection. Levy Galleries in Manhattan consigned several of Smiley's still life oil paintings during the 1960s and had success. A quote from Smiley's journal "I hate painting these still lifes but this is what they buy.” Smiley's artistic talent was rewarded in 1962. Hirschl & Adler Galleries appointed John Koch to select a group of paintings and sculptures for an exhibition titled "The Continuing Tradition of Realism in American Art". Smiley's #81 White Dawn graced the walls of the gallery along with American Masters like Edward Hopper and Andrew Wyeth.