A Brief Biography



I was born in 1947 into a family of artists. My father was a regionally well known sculptor and department chair at Wayne State University in Detroit, and my mother was a painter and art teacher in the Detroit public school system. From as early as I can remember, I've enjoyed making art in one form or another.

In 1964 I received a four-year scholarship to Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. I majored in graphic arts and graduated with honors in 1968. During the next several years I worked as an art director and illustrator for several corporations and ad agencies in New York. In '72 I thought I wanted to teach art and so I went back to Pratt for an MFA. After graduating, I rethought a teaching career and went to work as a commercial photographer and graphic designer for various ad agencies in Manhattan and in my spare time developed a personal body of photographs. I exhibited my work in several New York galleries, including Robert Gurbo's 10th Street Photo Gallery and Harold Jones' Light Gallery on Madison avenue. I was also an exhibitor in '10 Downtown', an annual show of artists living in Soho.

In the early 80's I left my loft on Canal Street and moved to Concord, New Hampshire. I remained a graphic designer and photographer, but I felt pulled toward a more contemplative lifestyle. I became a certified Kripalu yoga instructor and yoga therapist. Professionally, I found my niche as a graphic designer for non-profits, government organizations, museums and schools. My personal aesthetic interest however, turned toward the natural world and my photographs reflected that interest.

In 2004 my wife Debbie and I moved to Asheville, North Carolina where we live near our children and grandchildren. We have created a greeting card company- www.masalacards.com. 



Todd Smith

May, 2020