A. Lee Smith, Hampton, VA
Creation, 28” h x 22” w, Acrylics and Airbrush, 2014, $600
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First Light, 22” h x 34” w, Acrylics and Airbrush, 2014, $400
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BIO
Alma Lee Smith aka A. Lee resides in Hampton Roads, a full time visual artist. Born to an African American and Irish mother, and a Puerto Rican father. A. Lee has always delved into the arts throughout grade school. Was her high school’s class artist. After high school worked as a daycare aide, provider, and teacher for over twelve years. During this time, she pursued a college education and graduated from the University of the Arts of Philadelphia, with a BFA in Crafts-Ceramics 1994, upon entering was given advanced courses in molding and casting, animation, illustration and photography. Self-taught in areas of painting and quilting, she is the owner and proprietor of A. Lee Studio featuring Onyx Butterflies Creations. Since living in Hampton Roads, she has created stage play props and costumes for area schools including Davis Middle and Jones Magnet Middle, 1995 to the present as well as working and doing the same for the gifted program 1998-2002. She has exhibited her work in Hampton University’s Museum and Galleries. She was the winner of the mayor’s award 2004, for the Outdoor Art Market of Hampton’s Downtown Redevelopment Partnership. Her piece was titled: In the Spirit of the Wings, a ceramic wall unit that showcased a visitor with a camera coming to Hampton visiting areas like the Hampton University, The Emancipation Oak, the Carousel Park, as well as the Air and Space Center. Her Permanent collections of work includes many of Hampton, Chesapeake, Newport News, VA, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and as far away as Germany. Other collections can be seen in Davis Middle School’s library, and works can be viewed on Black Art in America’s website as well as Fineartamerica.com. Her greatest inspiration is children, the creative imagination that they have and how they perceive it has inspired some of her best work. The approach used in these pieces relates to the spiritual and natural aspects of the human ancestral light that helped all to evolve. Without light and without nature as the receiver of the personified light we would not exist. The goal as an artist is not simply to create, creating is easy, but to leave an artistic legacy. A legacy for future artists, especially those who endure. Those who have held on to their passion in spite of difficulties in life.
Alma Lee Smith aka A. Lee resides in Hampton Roads, a full time visual artist. Born to an African American and Irish mother, and a Puerto Rican father. A. Lee has always delved into the arts throughout grade school. Was her high school’s class artist. After high school worked as a daycare aide, provider, and teacher for over twelve years. During this time, she pursued a college education and graduated from the University of the Arts of Philadelphia, with a BFA in Crafts-Ceramics 1994, upon entering was given advanced courses in molding and casting, animation, illustration and photography. Self-taught in areas of painting and quilting, she is the owner and proprietor of A. Lee Studio featuring Onyx Butterflies Creations. Since living in Hampton Roads, she has created stage play props and costumes for area schools including Davis Middle and Jones Magnet Middle, 1995 to the present as well as working and doing the same for the gifted program 1998-2002. She has exhibited her work in Hampton University’s Museum and Galleries. She was the winner of the mayor’s award 2004, for the Outdoor Art Market of Hampton’s Downtown Redevelopment Partnership. Her piece was titled: In the Spirit of the Wings, a ceramic wall unit that showcased a visitor with a camera coming to Hampton visiting areas like the Hampton University, The Emancipation Oak, the Carousel Park, as well as the Air and Space Center. Her Permanent collections of work includes many of Hampton, Chesapeake, Newport News, VA, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and as far away as Germany. Other collections can be seen in Davis Middle School’s library, and works can be viewed on Black Art in America’s website as well as Fineartamerica.com. Her greatest inspiration is children, the creative imagination that they have and how they perceive it has inspired some of her best work. The approach used in these pieces relates to the spiritual and natural aspects of the human ancestral light that helped all to evolve. Without light and without nature as the receiver of the personified light we would not exist. The goal as an artist is not simply to create, creating is easy, but to leave an artistic legacy. A legacy for future artists, especially those who endure. Those who have held on to their passion in spite of difficulties in life.
