Born in Central Texas in 1945, Chesley Smith is a life-long artist currently focused on collage and abstract expressionism. His substantial body of work includes painting, sculpture, pencil, and pen and ink. Chesley began creating art by the age of seven. Some of his fondest memories are drawing at the kitchen table with his father. It was his father who encouraged him to pursue his passion for art into his secondary education. He graduated from university with a Bachelors degree in Art Education and began teaching at Paul Quinn College in Waco, Texas. It was during this time that he earned his Master of Arts degree from Texas A&M University in Commerce, Texas. During his twenty year tenure at Paul Quinn College, Chesley traveled extensivley exhibiting his work both nationally and internationally. Working with various media, Chesley has done many commisioned works of art around the world. Chesley later taught art for a number of years in the public school system from where he retired. Today Chesley continues to make his art from his home in Waco, Texas.
