The Hansell Gallery at The Philosophical Research Society in Los Angeles is presenting "Brain Drawings: The Art of Harry Smith," an exhibition running from May 7 to May 31, 2026. Curated by Rani Singh, the show features a wide selection of Smith's work, including early experiments in visualizing sound, a rare 1954 four-color silkscreen of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, string figure constructions, materials related to the Anthology of American Folk Music, photographs, and rarely seen films and audio works. An opening reception on May 7 includes a panel and multimedia presentation titled "Mind Maps: Exploring Harry Smith's Hermetic Allusions."
This exhibition matters because Harry Smith (1923–1991) was a profoundly influential yet often overlooked polymath whose contributions spanned experimental film, folk music revival, visual art, and esoteric studies. By bringing together his diverse practices—from hand-painted films to his legendary Anthology of American Folk Music—the show highlights Smith's unique role as a "shaman in residence" who bridged art, anthropology, and occult traditions. It offers contemporary audiences a rare opportunity to engage with a body of work that resists easy categorization and continues to inspire artists, musicians, and scholars.