Alex Smith, Jr.
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It is often said that there are two ways to acquire talent-- it can be taught or you can be born with it. Alex Smith, Jr. was born with it in Montgomery Alabama, to parents who were veterans of the Montgomery bus boycott. His family relocated to Brooklyn, N.Y. when he was three which made for a interesting upbringing--Brooklyn-grown tinged with southern undertones.
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At a young age Smith displayed hints of artistic talent. By high school, he was sure his life‘s work would be in the art world. Exactly where, was still to be decided. As a student at Brooklyn College he pursued a major in theatre, thinking he would become a set designer. The highly transitory structure of live theatre did not appeal to him. Smith felt the field would not be the best depository for his growing creative ideas. Switching his major to fine arts, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude in June 1975. He later did advance study in graphic design and photography at the School of Visual Arts.
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Early in Smith’s professional career, he gained expertise in typography by working as a typesetter and a graphic designer. This typographic experience would later prove invaluable when he started his company, LEX GRAPHICS. Smith’s professional experience also included art directing for a major N.Y. printing company where he handled accounts such as: The Muscular Dystrophy Association and Radio City Music Hall. Later in his career Smith hired himself out to corporate production departments as a consultant.
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In October of 1986, Smith opened Lex Graphics, a company specializing in all areas of graphic arts. All of his experiences and education proved instrumental in helping to turn Lex Graphics into one of the most creative design firms in the city. Its primary directive is toward excellence in all facets of graphic and visual design expression. Smith is committed to the study of images and their impact on attitudes and behavior. As a graphic designer and digital artist he has transformed Lex Graphics into a high-tech design firm offering cutting edge design with the use of the latest technology.
About LexCollection & the Process
In the fall of 1996, Smith formed a new company, THE LEX COLLECTION which would encompass his fine art talent in the area of fine art prints. With his one man exhibition of The Million Ones-Images From The Million Man March, Smith entered the field of digital fine art. The images in the series were inspired by photographs taken by family members and personal friends who attended the historical gathering. From there they were roughly sketched by hand and then scanned into a computer. Then they were digitally composed, refined, colored and output as digital prints (digitally produced on a wide format inkjet printer). Each print is hand signed and numbered. Most prints are limited edition. That series was followed with the exhibition of To The Souls of Our Feet. This series paid tribute to dancers and the dance. Smith is presently working on a new series No Shadow Of Turning-Images of the Black Church.
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