Thank you to everyone who made it out to Riverside to view my exhibition currently on view at @ucrarts California Museum of Photography.
Please stay tuned for more programming
in the coming months.
Lenard Smith: Fortuitous Encounters
California Museum of Photography
January 24, 2026 to July 26, 2026
Available Now.
Here is the catalog and gallery take away accompanying my first museum solo exhibition of photographs, objects, and sculptures open now at @ucrarts / California Museum of Photography.
Curated by: @k_poindexter
Grateful to Annie Chu of @chugoodingarchitects for the support with the exhibition design.
Book Design: @rachel.jax
This catalog was printed by @nonstopprintingla
Deep gratitude to Leiman, for your support.
Currently on View
Foundational Roots, 2020
Archival Pigment Print
16 x 20 inches
Edition of 3 + 2 A.P.
Lenard Smith: Fortuitous Encounters
California Museum of Photography
January 24, 2026 to July 26, 2026
@ucrarts
Curated by: Kathryn Poindexter-Akers
@k_poindexter
Currently on View
Still Life (How To…), 2020
Archival Pigment Print
16 x 20 inches
Edition of 3 + 2 A.P.
Lenard Smith: Fortuitous Encounters
California Museum of Photography
January 24, 2026 to July 26, 2026
@ucrarts
Curated by: Kathryn Poindexter-Akers
@k_poindexter
Currently on View
Recent Update, 2020
Archival Pigment Print
16 x 20 inches
Edition of 3 + 2 A.P.
Lenard Smith: Fortuitous Encounters
California Museum of Photography
January 24, 2026 to July 26, 2026
@ucrarts
Curated by: Kathryn Poindexter-Akers
@k_poindexter
Currently on View
Melancholy Objects # 1026, 2022
Archival Pigment Print
16 x 20 inches
Edition of 3 + 2 A.P.
Lenard Smith: Fortuitous Encounters
California Museum of Photography
January 24, 2026 to July 26, 2026
@ucrarts
Curated by: Kathryn Poindexter-Akers
@k_poindexter
Currently on View:
Photography classes from Riverside STEM High School and Vista Murrieta High School worked with artist and educator Lenard Smith this spring on a photography workshop inspired by his exhibition, Lenard Smith: Fortuitous Encounters, currently on view at the California Museum of Photography.
Smith constructs still life compositions with found objects including photographic equipment and theoretical publications, studio detritus, and signifiers of Black identity and culture.
To create these photographs, students brought objects from home and worked with Smith in a studio setting to construct their own assemblage sculptures, photographing them against the same colorful backdrops that Smith uses in his own practice. Their compositions explore ideas about the sentimental value of objects, how they can create a narrative through composition, and how their images fit within the idea of an archive.
Reception
Sunday, May 3, 1-4pm
Free and open to the public
Artists
Riverside STEM High School
Adrian Rodriguez
David Solano Guzman
Ella Bailey
Everett Harris
Gabriel Horspool
Jonathan Lopez
Katherine Barajas
Natalie Varrato
Noeh Jara
Penelope Goatcher
Vista Murrieta High School
Aimee Briote-Johnson
Alicia Poveda
Cali Chambers
Carlene Tran
Casey Woolsey
David Vo
Ellis Murray
Jalen Salas & Jaden Salas
Kaiya Giles
Leonard Arkinstall
Melody Zaragoza
Trystan Diaz
Valerie Duncan
Ximena Escobar Campos
Storytelling Through Photography is an ongoing series of workshops conceived and organized by Lindsey Hammel, Director of Learning and Engagement, and Steffanie A. Padilla, Education Programs Manager. The workshops blend artistic expression with a foundational understanding of photographic principles and techniques—like light, color, and focal length—and the industry standards that support visual storytelling. Through guided activities and examples, students reflect on how photographers use visual tools to tell powerful stories.
Student workshops and this presentation were made possible by the City of Riverside. Special thanks to our partners Lisette Bourne, Riverside STEM High School and Lindsay Ricketts, Vista Murrieta High School
One week since the conclusion of our presentation with Lenard Smith (@archivethestudio ) at the 45th edition of the Photography Show.
Thank you to the selection committee and team at AIPAD for the selection and recognition of Lenard’s work.
We look forward to returning to the fair in the future.
Please email or DM for more information about Lenard and his work.
See you very soon NYC!
7 Books
Currently on View @uscroski
Helen Topping Architecture & Fine Arts Library
April 30 - May 15, 2026
ART450:
Topics in Advanced Photography
Congratulations to my students:
Alia Chand
Teo Gonzales
Asako Ishibashi
Soeun Kim
David Lee
Tylani Lloyd
Eva Zhang
Thank you to Shannon Marie Robinson
Head | Architecture & Fine Arts Library
USC Libraries | University of Southern California
Thank you to Michael Shroads, Jackie Castillo - @caminadas , Jon Wingo, and Edgar Arceneaux - @edgar_three and all USC Roski staff for your support.
Join us THIS Sunday, May 3 from 1-4 p.m. to celebrate two high school exhibitions opening at UCR ARTS! Inspired by Lenard Smith (@archivethestudio ), students from Riverside STEM High School and Vista Murrieta High School photographic work created in a workshop led by artist and educator Lenard Smith, inspired by his work featured in Lenard Smith: Fortuitous Encounters.
The event will also feature Family First Sunday drop-in art activities and light refreshments. Celebrate the creative expression of these high school students with us!
🔗 Visit the link in bio to RSVP for free!
📸 Photos by Steffanie Padilla.
Thank you
To Rachael and Joshua of @centralserverworks
for your care and commitment to supporting my practice. I am grateful to all of the staff at @aipadphoto Thank you to all the visitors, artists, curators, galleries, collectors and institutions that took time to engage with my work. Lastly, Thank you to Briana Ellis-Gibbs, from @guardian for the mention in the write up for: The Photography Show at the Park Avenue Armory in New York.
Give Thanks.
@vibronicsdub 🙌🏾
🗽
The Photography Show, presented by AIPAD (45th Edition), continues.
Park Avenue Armory, New York
Focal Point Booth FP6
Open today Saturday April 25:
12:00–7:00 PM
Central Server Works presents a solo installation of Lenard Smith.
At the core are works from 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 (2024–present), where photographic mattes are reconfigured as primary forms—compressed, stacked, and staged as speculative architectures. Across the presentation, forms lean, align, and hold in tension, positioning photography as both image and structure.
—
Images:
1. 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 #4456, 2024
2. 𝘉𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘵 𝘜𝘱 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 2023
All artworks are archival pigment prints in editions of 3 + 2 AP.
@archivethestudio@aipadphoto
