About

Hailing from a small Mississippi community, Mary T. Smith, born in 1904, turned her life and surroundings into an endless well of inspiration, leaving an indelible artistic legacy.

Growing up as the third child in a sharecropping family of 13, she faced a notable hearing impairment that impacted her social interactions. Instead of mingling with others as a child, she chose to sketch drawings in the dust. Through her vibrant creations, Smith captures the essence of rural life in the American South. Characterized by the use of recycled materials, Smith transforms the courtyard of her home into …