Rebroadcast: Portland painter Arvie Smith on his Guggenheim Fellowship work
About this episode
The episode features an interview with Portland artist Arvie Smith discussing his Guggenheim Fellowship work and his artistic exploration of race and injustice.
Portland artist Arvie Smith is known for colorful, larger-than-life oil paintings that explore oppression and injustice against Black Americans through symbolism and visual tropes. He’s also a professor emeritus at Pacific Northwest College of Art after a 35-year tenure. His murals can be seen on buildings in North Portland and at the Donald E. Long Juvenile Center, where he spent time teaching art to incarcerated youth. Despite being in his mid-80s, Smith is far from retired — just last year, he received a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship. The work he created during that fellowship is currently on display in Chicago. Titled “Crossing Clear Creek,” the exhibit explores Smith’s childhood memories and experience of race in rural Texas and Los Angeles. We spoke with Smith in March 2025 about his life and work.
People in this episode
Guest: Arvie Smith
Topics covered
- art
- Black American history
- Guggenheim Fellowship
- oppression
- injustice
- symbolism
- personal narrative
Keywords
- Arvie Smith
- Guggenheim Fellowship
- oil paintings
- Black Americans
- art education
- North Portland
- Crossing Clear Creek
- symbolism
- injustice
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Pacific Northwest College of Art
Books & works: Crossing Clear Creek
Places: North Portland, Donald E. Long Juvenile Center, Chicago, Texas, Los Angeles
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