Pauline Hudel Smith: A Celebration of Life and Art

“A deeply passionate artist, teacher and woman. Pauline’s belief system was strong, which was at the core of her teaching and her art. To read her bio is to realize her commitment to everything she did as a woman, a mother, a teacher and an artist. Her talents were never-ending.” 

-Dianne Kennedy, long-time friend and artistic collaborator

August 5th – 23rd, 2024

Reception: Friday, August 23rd from 5:00 to 7:30 PM

The Gallery at UTA is pleased to present a retrospective exhibition honoring the life and creativity of longtime faculty member, Pauline Hudel Smith, who died in 2024 after a battle with cancer. Organized by colleagues, friends, and family members, the exhibition displays over 100 sculptural and mixed media works along with graphic design and illustration posters created throughout her long career, ranging from 1980 to 2020. Many of her early works have rarely been seen and attest to her creative design and conceptual process, setting the stage for her later award-winning commercial graphic designs.

During her four-decade career, she worked fluidly between different fields – design, fine art and education. Full-time design positions included Art Director at Neiman Marcus and Sr. Designer at JCPenney. She completed numerous freelance design projects for national and international clients including Dillards, Neiman Marcus, JCPenney, Ampad, Pinnacle, Vertis Advertising, Ameriprise Financial, Mary Kay, Hill + Knowlton, Sothebys, and Duke Energy. Design projects she worked on include a publication for the Dallas Museum of Art, design and concept for The Dallas Opera ‘Nabucco’ book, and The Neiman Marcus Christmas Book cover art and product design.

She held teaching positions at the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of Texas at Dallas, Collin College, Richland College, as well as a teaching fellowship at the University of North Texas. Her curiosity and knowledge about life, nature, history, and art was a gift to her students as exemplified by both accolades from them and by the many teaching awards she earned during her career.

In addition, Pauline exhibited her work in juried, invitational and one-person shows – internationally in China, Belgium, France, South Africa, Mexico, Italy, and nationally in San Francisco, Boulder, Chicago, Austin, Brooklyn, Wichita, Los Angeles, Seattle, New Orleans, St Louis, Santa Fe, Houston, and more. She won numerous professional awards from United Design Alliance, DNA Paris Design Awards, Apex Award of Excellence, The Dallas Society of Visual Communication, Hermes Creative Awards, and several ADDYs from The American Advertising Federation.

Her most recent work displays her commitment to her passion – political and socially driven graphics resulting from a direct reaction to national discourse. This work concentrated on the catalytic role visual messages play in communicating ideas and connecting with audiences through art and design. In her words, “Assimilating art and design into the culture can create meaningful citizen engagement and encourage a sense of belonging in communities.”

PAULINE HUDEL SMITH BIOGRAPHY

EDUCATION

  • MFA, Texas A&M University, Commerce, 1993.
    Major: Mixed Media
  • BA, The University of Texas at Dallas, 1982.
    Major: Visual Arts

WORK HISTORY

  • Tenure Track – Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Arlington, VCD – Art and Art History Department. (September 2019 – Present).
  • Art Direction/Sr Designer/Illustration, Freelance, Creative. (1984 – Present).
  • Assistant Professor of Practice, UT Arlington, VCD – Art and Art History Department. (2018 – 2019).
  • Senior Lecturer, UT Arlington, VCD Art and Art History. (2006 – 2018).
  • Adjunct Faculty, Richland College, Multimedia/Art & Humanities. (1992 – 2011).
  • Design Instructor, Collin College, VC – Arts & Humanities. (1987 – 2004).
  • Instructor, University of Texas at Dallas, Art & Humanities. (1999 – 2000).
  • Art Director, Neiman Marcus, Creative. (1998 – 1999).
  • Art Direction/ Sr Designer, JCPenney, Creative. (1994 – 1998).
  • Teaching Fellow, University of North Texas, Art Department. (1987 – 1989).
  • Designer/Production, JCPenney Financial Services, Art. (1982 – 1987).

AWARDS AND HONORS

  • Silver Award, Graphis International Design Publications. (November 18, 2021).
  • Award of Excellence, Apex. (July 15, 2021).
  • Gold Hermes Creative Award – International, Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. (July 3, 2021).
  • Bronze – International, UDA United Designs Alliance Annual International Design Competition. (June 2021).
  • Gold – International, UDA United Designs Alliance Annual International Design Competition. (June 2021).
  • Silver – International, UDA United Designs Alliance Annual International Design Competition. (June 2021).
  • Silver – International, UDA United Designs Alliance Annual International Design Competition. (June 2021).
  • Award Winner – Honorable Mention, Women’s Caucus for the Arts. (June 3, 2021).
  • Gold 15th Annual Hermes Creative Award – International, Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. (April 22, 2021).
  • Honorable Mention 15th Annual Hermes Creative Award – International, Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. (April 22, 2021).
  • Bronze Addy Award, American Advertising Federation. (March 4, 2021).
  • Silver Addy Award, American Advertising Federation. (March 4, 2021).
  • Award Winner – Honorable Mention, Milford Arts Council. (October 15, 2020).
  • Award of Excellence, Apex. (July 10, 2020).
  • Winner in Graphic Design/Key art (Posters, Covers, Illustration), DNA Paris Design Award 2020. (June 1, 2020).
  • Award Winner – Honorable Mention, Jacoby Arts Center. (April 20, 2020).
  • Grand Prize, Graphic Era Juried Exhibition-The Delaplaine Arts Center. (April 2, 2020).
  • Award Winner – Honorable Mention, Art Reach of Mid-Michigan. (March 19, 2020).
  • Silver Addy Award, American Advertising Federation. (February 21, 2020).
  • Silver Addy Award, American Advertising Federation. (February 21, 2020).
  • Award of Merit – FL3TCH3R Exhibit, Reece Museum. (November 12, 2019).
  • 4th Place, Contemporary Art Gallery Online. (October 1, 2019).
  • Honorary Affiliate Member, Women’s and Gender Studies Program. (September 2019).
  • Special Recognition – International, Light Space & Time Online Gallery. (September 2019).
  • Platinum Hermes Creative Award – International, Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. (September 22, 2019).
  • Grand Apex Award – International, Communications Concepts Inc. (July 31, 2019).
  • Special Recognition – International, Light Space & Time Online Gallery. (July 2019).
  • Gold Hermes Creative Award – International, Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. (July 3, 2019).
  • Gold Hermes Creative Award – International, Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. (July 3, 2019).
  • Gold – International, UDA United Designs Alliance Annual International Design Competition. (June 2019).
  • Silver – International, UDA United Designs Alliance Annual International Design Competition. (June 2019).
  • Faculty Grant, Art and Art History Department. (March 2019).
  • Faculty Research Endowment Grant, COLA UTA. (August 2018).
  • Award of Excellence – International, Apex Awards – Communications Concepts Inc. (July 2018).
  • Bronze Award – International, UDA Annual International Design Competition. (June 2018).
  • Bronze Award – International, UDA Annual International Design Competition. (June 2018).
  • Silver Award – International, UDA Annual International Design Competition. (June 2018).
  • Special Judges Award – Best in Category, American Advertising Federation Award Winner. (2017).
  • William S. Ward Endowment Award, University of Texas at Arlington. (2017).
  • Bronze Lightbulb Award, DSVC. (June 2017).
  • Bronze Addy, American Advertising Federation. (April 2017).
  • Gold Addy, American Advertising Federation. (February 2017).
  • Honors Day Luncheon, College of Humanities and Social Sciences Texas A & M University. (2014).
  • “Recognized Professor”, Phi Kappa Phi. (2013).
  • Jack Plummer Departmental Service Award, Department of Art and Art History. (2012).
  • Mentor Honoree, UNT. (May 2012).
  • Outstanding Teaching Award Art Certification, Art and Art History Department. (2009).

Pauline Hudel Smith Artist Statement, 2019

I believe that art and design are, at their core, the same thing. A work of design [art] is essentially form and idea, problem solving that turns a concept into a visual message. Design and art continually source and reference each other – art is infused with design and vice versa.

Both fine art and design teach that everything you see and every life experience, make up the unique point of view of a designer [artist]. The role of the individual can’t be disassociated from the work. The work may be defined by the designer [artist] however, design and art are applied to subjects that are fully outside themselves. Both study and reflect society.

Gallery hours for this exhibition are 10 am – 4 pm Monday through Friday.

All are invited to honor and share memories of her life and influence during a special closing celebration Friday, August 23 in the Gallery at UTA from 5 to 7:30 pm.

The Gallery at UTA is in room 169 of the Fine Arts Building, 502 S. Cooper St, Arlington, TX.

For more information, contact Dr. August Jordan Davis (817) 272-2891 or Patricia Healy (817) 272-5658