Mike Smith

Mike Smith is an American photographer based in Johnson City, Tennessee. His work explores the American social and cultural landscape with a quiet intensity, often focusing on overlooked people and places. After earning his MFA from Yale University, Smith went on to teach photography at East Tennessee State University for over 35 years, where he became known for his dedication to craft and mentorship.

His photographs have been exhibited nationally and internationally, with solo shows at institutions including the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia, the Knoxville Museum of Art, and the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. Smith’s work is held in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art, among others.

Throughout his career, Smith has balanced teaching with a deeply personal photographic practice, often working quietly and independently outside of major art centers. His images are known for their restraint, clarity, and emotional depth, qualities that continue to resonate across decades and formats. (Website)