Rick Smith | SIU

Metalsmithing, Blacksmithing

Rick Smith earned his MFA from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1992. He is a Professor specializing in blacksmithing and forge welding techniques. Smith’s work is in the permanent collection of the Arkansas Arts Center at the Decorative Arts Museum in Little Rock, AR. He has received two fellowships from the Illinois Arts Council. Smith has taught classes at many prominent crafts schools across the nation, including Penland School of Crafts, and Haystack Mountain School of Crafts.

Some noteworthy publications of his are in the Smithsonian, American Craft, and Metalsmith. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. Smith was a resident artist at Penland School of Crafts until accepting a position as a member of the faculty at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1997. Currently, Smith is overseeing the Blacksmithing program at SIU while maintaining his status as a producing artist.