Leon Polk Smith
Encyclopedia
Leon Polk Smith was an American
painter. His geometrically oriented abstract
paintings were influenced by Piet Mondrian
and his style has been associated with the Hard-edge
school, of which he is considered one of the founders.http://www.arithmeum.uni-bonn.de/en/events/61
Smith was born near Chickasha
, Oklahoma
a year before it became a state, to parents who were part Cherokee
. He grew up among American Indians
of the Choctaw
and Chickasaw
tribes. He graduated from East Central University
in Ada, Oklahoma
in 1934. He moved to New York City
in 1936, where he attended Columbia University
, and remained in New York for the rest of his life.
Much of Smith's work was inspired by American Indian artistic traditions and he frequently used canvases which were round or other non-standard shapes.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
painter. His geometrically oriented abstract
Abstract art
Abstract art uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world. Western art had been, from the Renaissance up to the middle of the 19th century, underpinned by the logic of perspective and an...
paintings were influenced by Piet Mondrian
Piet Mondrian
Pieter Cornelis "Piet" Mondriaan, after 1906 Mondrian , was a Dutch painter.He was an important contributor to the De Stijl art movement and group, which was founded by Theo van Doesburg. He evolved a non-representational form which he termed Neo-Plasticism...
and his style has been associated with the Hard-edge
Hard-edge painting
Hard-edge painting is painting in which abrupt transitions are found between color areas. Color areas are often of one unvarying color. The Hard-edge painting style is related to Geometric abstraction, Op Art, Post-painterly Abstraction, and Color Field painting.-History of the term:The term was...
school, of which he is considered one of the founders.http://www.arithmeum.uni-bonn.de/en/events/61
Smith was born near Chickasha
Chickasha, Oklahoma
Chickasha is a city in and the county seat, business and employment center of Grady County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 15,850 at the 2000 census. Chickasha is home to the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma and hosts an annual Festival of Light celebration located at...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
a year before it became a state, to parents who were part Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
. He grew up among American Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
of the Choctaw
Choctaw
The Choctaw are a Native American people originally from the Southeastern United States...
and Chickasaw
Chickasaw
The Chickasaw are Native American people originally from the region that would become the Southeastern United States...
tribes. He graduated from East Central University
East Central University
East Central University is a four year public university in Ada, Oklahoma, located in the south central region of the state. The university also has courses available in McAlester, Shawnee, Ardmore, and Durant....
in Ada, Oklahoma
Ada, Oklahoma
Ada is a city in and the county seat of Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 16,008 at the 2000 census. As of 2009, the city population was estimated at 17,019....
in 1934. He moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1936, where he attended Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, and remained in New York for the rest of his life.
Much of Smith's work was inspired by American Indian artistic traditions and he frequently used canvases which were round or other non-standard shapes.