Artist Jessica Smith, originally from Texas, is opening her first solo exhibition in Salt Lake City titled "35 Years of Not Painting" at the Salt Lake City Public Library's Lower Urban Room Gallery from May 11 to June 21. After a high school art teacher censored her work, Smith abandoned painting for decades, turning to theater and later creating personalized picture books for her son with autism. She returned to art during the COVID-19 pandemic, painting portraits of admired figures like Mr. Rogers, Tupac Shakur, and Stevie Nicks. Smith is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation and has become TERO Certified, allowing her to be listed as a potential artist for tribal commissions. She credits the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake as a key support system.
The story matters because it highlights the resilience of a mid-career artist reconnecting with her childhood passion and Indigenous heritage after a long hiatus. Smith's journey underscores how personal trauma, censorship, and economic hardship can delay artistic expression, yet also demonstrates that creative fulfillment can emerge later in life. Her exhibition serves as an inspirational message to others facing creative blocks, encouraging them to pursue their talents regardless of age or past setbacks. The article also spotlights local Indigenous community resources and the growing visibility of Native American artists in Utah's art scene.