A celebration of the intimate and sprawling works of Rose and Melvin Smith—explore the histories embedded in their paintings and collages. The evening will include small bites, jazz music by PaviElle, and conversation with the artists.

VIP Reception | 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Members at the Collector level and above and special guests are invited to a private reception before the preview party with the artists. Space is limited. RSVP required: wamrsvp@umn.edu. Become a member today>>

Currently living in Eagan, MN, Melvin R. and Rose J. Smith were residents of St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood for many years—Rose for most of her life and Melvin from 1963 to 1968. The Smiths’ artwork consists of urban scenes and portraits that present realist, expressionist, and at times allegorical takes on Black life in America. The works in Rose and Melvin Smith: Remembering Rondo are drawn from their Rondo series—a sprawling body of work that stands as an elegiac anthem for that lost neighborhood and the enduring community that lives on in its wake.

Featured image: Melvin Smith, Combs Family, 2003, paper collage.