Art, jewelry by Jo-an Smith on exhibit at Phillips Gallery

Artwork and jewelry created by long-time Las Cruces artist Jo-an Smith is on display at Phillips Gallery, 221 N. Main St. downtown, with even more of her uniquely beautiful jewelry creations on exhibit during the month of October.

“My 48-year love of New Mexico is at the heart of my art,” Smith said. “I was 39 when our family moved to Las Cruces after living and traveling extensively from Alaska to Argentina. Immediately, New Mexico felt like home, and it still feels that way. New Mexico is artistically stimulating in so many ways, from the unique cliff dwellings to the sensual interior landscapes of our chile peppers. Also, I am continually fascinated by the jewel-like outer space formations. My paintings and jewelry are definitely influenced by our Southwest and are often inspired by nature.”

Smith completed her master’s degree in art at NMSU in 1975 and was immediately invited to be the jewelry designer for Sally and Glenn Cutter, who had recently opened their jewelry store in Las Cruces. The Cutters mentored Smith in a very special way over the next 44 years, she said.

In addition to design work, Smith was the Cutters’ artist in residence for many years.  She was also co-founder and director of ArtShop, 1993-2003; her jewelry was part of the Smithsonian Permanent Collection, 1976-2020; she was featured in Who’s Who in American Art, 1976-2020 and Who’s Who in American Women, 2005-2020.

She is a signature member of the New Mexico Watercolor Society, 2005-2020; received the Doña Ana Arts Council’s Papen Family Award, 2008; had a painting featured in the New Mexico Capitol Art Foundation in Santa Fe, 2005; had two paintings featured in the Silver City Cancer Center, New Mexico Art in Public Places, 2007; and received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, Who’s Who, 2019.

Smith’s paintings and jewelry have been exhibited and collected nationally and internationally.

More recently, during the pandemic lockdown, Smith has started a large mural on her home patio wall.  She also has been working on paintings and jewelry for her next one-woman show, now in the planning stages and scheduled to open in October 2021, tentatively titled “Celebrating 89 Years.” Since Smith has been merging her mesa studio with her studio in town, the exhibit will be a first-time comprehensive gathering of works from her private collection along with her new work, she said. 

When the Cutter Gallery closed in 2019, Smith was invited to show her jewelry at the Phillips Gallery. She opened “Jo-an Smith Studios” in the same building to showcase her paintings. An expanded collection of Smith’s jewelry will be featured throughout October at Phillips Gallery. It may be seen 8 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays.

The painting gallery is just down the hall from Phillips and will be lighted so that viewers can peek in and decide if they would like a closer look, by appointment, she said. To make an appointment, email Smith at joansmith4833@gmail.com. 

Smith’s “output and creativity astound me, as does her technical skill,” said Las Cruces artist Julie Ford Oliver. “I feel blessed to be able to absorb the beauty.”  

“Jo-an’s art in both her jewelry and painting helps us see our world in new ways, said architect and art collector Donna Tate. “Her art is never static as it grows, changes, expands, constantly moving into new directions.  It brings a new voice, a new vision to her creative life.  Jo-an is in the true sense, an artist.”

 “I love the continuity of Jo-an’s work: the beautiful expressionistic brush strokes and the warm, rich and glowing colors and the intensity of her vision,” said artist Nancy Begin.