Fred Smith

Born: 1927, NYC

USNR 1945 – 1946

Russel Sage College 1947 – 1949

Merchant Seaman 1949 – 1957

Art Students League 1958

Resident Spain 1958 – 1967

Exhibitions:

Galerie Brinken: Stockholm, Sweden 1963

Galeria Caja de Ahorros de Ronda; Malaga, Spain 1963

Museo de Bellas Artes de Malaga; Malaga, Spain 1964

Travels: Europe, Asia, Africa, South America

Married; 2 Children; 5 Grandchildren; 1 Great Grandchild

Represented: Guildhall Gallery, Chicago

Private Collections: USA, Spain, Netherlands, UK, Sweden

Cliff Jackson

In 1958, when Fred arrived in Fuengirola, Spain, a small Andalusian fishing village, he met his neighbor Cliff Jackson, a painter from Paterson, New Jersey. Cliff was an ex-seaman like Fred and they soon became friends for life, spending hours talking while Cliff painted or at the fireside at night over a bottle of wine. In this way Fred became inspired to begin painting himself and because of his great admiration for Cliff’s style and works, he attended Art Students League while back in NYC, Cliff’s old alma mater. Later on Cliff was instrumental in arranging for Fred’s paintings to be shown in Stockholm, Sweden, Cliff’s eventual home country.

From Kat & Bernie Krause, Wild Sanctuary

“The writer Isak Dinesen wrote that “. . . the cure for anything is salt water, sweat, tears, or the sea.”  Bernie and I were sorry to hear of Fred’s passing and send our condolences to you and your family.  His resonant voice both in his work and through his activism will not be forgotten.

From our friends in Mijas, Spain

“Fred Smith has passed away. This gentleman was in charge of the works of Aubrey David, “El Barba,” in the 60s, and was known to mijenos as Federico, living for a time in El Escondrijo (The Hideout) on Calle Coin. He was enamored of Mijas, of his mijena daughters, and gave them the names Malaga and Serrana Pilar. He spoke frequently of returning to the town he called “a paradise” – the most civilized place in the world (referring to Mijas in that era) Rest in peace”