In addition to his work as a curator and arts administrator, Paul J. Smith has lectured and consulted in the field of contemporary craft and design throughout his career.
NEW YORK, NY, September 23, 2019 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Paul J. Smith with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Mr. Smith celebrates many years' experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
With more than 50 years of experience in the arts to his credit, Mr. Smith has become an authority in his field and recognized with the title of Director Emeritus of the Museum of Arts and Design. He began his professional career with the American Craft Council (ACC) in 1957, assuming the directorship of the ACC's Museum of Contemporary Crafts---now the Museum of Arts and Design-in New York in 1963. In addition to his work as a curator and arts administrator, Mr. Smith has lectured and consulted in the field of contemporary craft and design throughout his career. His advocacy and involvement have made him a key figure in the revival of the studio crafts in the United States and beyond.
Prior to embarking on his professional path. Mr. Smith pursued higher education by completing coursework at the Art Institute of Buffalo and at the School for American Crafts at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from the New School for Social Research in 1987. Mr. Smith was mentored by art educator Charlotte Ranger, artist Charles Burchfield, and ACC president David Campbell, all of whom encouraged his passion for the arts.
Beyond his career, Mr. Smith has participated in numerous civic endeavors within his field and community. He served as a trustee of the Penland School Crafts and the Haystack Mountain School Crafts, and is currently a trustee of the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation and President of the Lenore G. Tawney Foundation. He has lectured in more than 40 countries and participated in numerous conferences on craft and design. Notably, Mr. Smith assisted with the planning and implementation of the First World Congress of Craftsmen in 1964.
Leveraging his plethora of knowledge, Mr. Smith has penned several worthy texts alongside his curatorial projects, authoring Craft Today: Poetry of the Physical in 1986 and Objects for Use: Handmade by Design in 2001. Moreover, he organized a number of notable thematic exhibitions including Cookies and Breads: The Baker's Art in 1966, Designed for Production: The Craftsman's Approach in 1964, The Door in 1968, and The Great American Foot in 1978. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Mr. Smith remains informed of the changes and advancements in the arts through relevant organizations. He has served as trustee or on committees of the World Crafts Council, the Atlantic Center for the Arts, the Pilchuck Glass School, and Friends of Fiber Art International.
Mr. Smith's many achievements in the field have been recognized by a number of awards and accolades throughout his career. He received the Aileen Osborn Webb Award from the American Craft Council in 2009 and the Legends Award from the Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts in 2011. Mr. Smith has been featured in several editions of Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the East.
In recognition of outstanding contributions to his profession and the Marquis Who's Who community, Mr. Smith has been featured on the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement website. Please visit www.ltachievers.com for more information about this honor.
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