The Border Artists
Jo-an Smith has been creating unusual one-of-a-kind jewelry since 1976. She introduced her watercolors and oil paintings at her one-woman show, “Ancient Space”, in 1996. Smith holds both a BA and MA in art and has studied painting with Aleksander Titovets, Cheng Khee Chee and Stephen Quiller. She has been listed in “Who’s Who in American Art” since 1976 and is a Distinguished Member of the Society of North American Goldsmiths. Recently she was accepted for inclusion in the 25th Edition of “Who’s Who of American Women.” From 1994 though 2003 she was Chairman of Las Cruces’ ARTSHOP.
Smith’s art has been exhibited and collected nationally and internationally. Selected exhibitions include: Salmagundi Club National Juried Exhibition ’97, Nightwalker National Juried Exhibition ’97, and New Mexico Water Color Society Signature Members’ Show in the Albuquerque Art Museum in 2005. Selected one-woman shows are: “Glorious Gold,” “Ancient Space,” “Emerging,” “Up Close and Far Away,” “Explorations,” “Inner Light,” “New Harvest,” and “Vibrant Rhythms.” Her work and home have been featured in three books: New Art International ’96, New Art International ’98 and The Desert Home, 2002.
There have been numerous magazine and newspaper articles about her art and home such as “New Mexico Magazine” and Ventanas del Valle.” Her oil painting “Sacred Impressions” is part of the permanent New Mexico State Capitol Art Collection in the Capitol Building, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Smith was born and grew up in the Pacific Northwest. As an adult she lived and studied in Alaska, Argentina, El Salvador, and Panama before settling in Las Cruces in 1972. Her jewelry and paintings are on exhibit regularly at Glenn Cutter Jewelers and Gallery in Las Cruces.