Robert C. Smith: An Eclectic Studio & A Remarkable Career

February 8, 2019

6-8p

Des Lee Gallery, 1627 Washington Ave.

Opening reception: Friday, February 8, 2019, 6-8p; remarks at 6:30p
On view: Friday, February 8 – Saturday, March 9, 2019
Gallery hours: Wednesday, Friday & Saturday, 1-6p
Additional hours available by appointment

Please join us for the opening reception of Robert C. Smith: An Eclectic Studio & A Remarkable Career.

Robert C. Smith (1926-2018) was an accomplished draftsman, painter, photographer, sculptor, and fountain designer, as well as a professor emeritus in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis. Bob joined the faculty in 1965 as director of the first- and second-year program and later helped establish the communication design major. In 1972, he launched Create Studio, a professional graphic design firm staffed entirely by students—one of the first of its kind in the nation. Bob’s own studio practice embodied his wide-ranging interests and endless curiosity, and included commissioned projects for Cincinnati’s Taft Museum, the St. Louis Zoo, and the MUNY Opera in Forest Park, among many others. The Des Lee Gallery is proud to celebrate the eclectic works and influential legacy of this consummate St. Louis maker and teacher.

Robert C. Smith’s daughter, Kathy Vice, speaks with a gallery visitor at her father’s Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Gallery visitor views work by Robert C. Smith at his Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Robert C. Smith Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Eva and Eric Bischoff view work at Robert C. Smith Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Rick Smith (left), son of Robert C. Smith, talks with retired SFS professor Sarah Birdsall and Sam Mitchell at the Robert C. Smith Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Lindsey Zoellner views drawing created by Robert C. Smith from the 1940s through 2010 at his Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Rick Smith (right), son of Robert C. Smith, talks with SFS former faculty member Sarah Birdsall and Sam Mitchell at the Robert C. Smith Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Lindsey Zoellner views drawing created by Robert C. Smith from the 1940s through 2010 at his Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Rick Smith (left), son of Robert C. Smith, talks with Sam Mitchell at the Robert C. Smith Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Drawings created by Robert C. Smith from the 1940s through 2010 at his Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Val Smith, (Robert C. Smith’s daughter and WU alum) talks with Dick Bischoff at her father’s Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Robert C. Smith Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Posters and Printed pieces of Robert C. Smith’s work at his Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Fountain Designs 1960’s-1980’s (center) by Robert C. Smith at his Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Landscapes and Seascapes from the 1960’s, 1990’s and 2000’s, Robert C. Smith Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Attendees viewing a Slide Show at the Robert C. Smith Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Melissa Miller hugs Karen Goellner (facing away) with Bob Merz at the Robert C. Smith Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Buffalo, photography from the 1950s, Robert C. Smith Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Jeff Pike, former Dean and Faculty member of the Sam Fox School, gives remarks at the Robert C. Smith Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Robert C. Smith’s daughter Val Smith (center) and his son Rick Smith (right) at their father’s Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Robert C. Smith’s daughter, Val Smith, gives remarkes at her father’s Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Robert C. Smith’s son Rick Smith, gives remarkes at his father’s Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Robert C. Smith’s daughter, Val Smith, gives remarkes at her father’s Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Robert C. Smith’s daughter, Kathy Vice, gives remarks at her father’s Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Robert C. Smith’s grandson, Nathaniel, gives remarks at his grandfather’s Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Stan Strembicki, Retired faculty member of Sam Fox School, gives remarks at the Robert C. Smith Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Sarah Birdsall, retired professor of SFS, gives remarks at the Robert C. Smith Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Family members listen to remarks at the Robert C. Smith Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

From left, gallery Visitors Mary Buschman and Elsa Stuart view artwork at the Robert C. Smith Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

John Rhine (left) hugs Regina Dinam at the Robert C. Smith Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Robert C. Smith Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Robert C. Smith’s son Rick Smith (center) talks with Hattie Felton (left) and David Lobbig both curators from the Missouri Historical Society at his father’s Retrospective Exhibit Opening, Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, MO