The Museum is proud to announce our next exhibit “Recent Works by Raymond Smith” in the Upper Gallery! All are invited to his opening reception, which is a stop on the Hoboken Artists’ Studio Tour, on Sunday, November 3rd, from 2pm-5pm at the Museum. 

Raymond Smith is an accomplished painter, illustrator, and graphic designer, specializing in figurative art. Ray grew up near Lake Michigan in Hammond, Indiana. He credits his Mom and Grandma for encouraging his entry into art. Whenever Ray would sit down to draw, his Grandma would say, “don’t trace.” She believed in Ray’s talent and ability to develop his own artistic point of view. These certainly were prescient words – Ray is a true original. 

After working in Chicago for a few years, the east coast was calling to Ray and he made his way to Hoboken in the 1980’s. He took up work in advertising and design for school textbooks. He recalls seeing Mayor Vezzetti walking down the street with a bullhorn on one of his first days in town. This was also when he met HHM Director Bob Foster and even shared a darkroom with him. 

Ray learned the importance of affordable housing, especially crucial for artists. He waited in line for 36 hours, with a broken arm, at that, in order to get an apartment in Marine View Plaza. This is now his home base and studio. He lives close to the Hudson River, and is continually inspired by it. 

Ray serves as an art instructor for the Stevens Cooperative School. He has been teaching art for twenty five years for various non-profits and schools. He imparts his love of art to the next generation this way. 

In his art, Ray always seeks out the most unique aspects of an environment. The “Recent Works by Raymond Smith” exhibit in the Upper Gallery encapsulates the originality of Hoboken through his iconic impressionist paintings. From Church Square Park, to Karma Kafe, viewers will delight in Ray’s work.