The University Gallery at East Texas A&M University is pleased to announce Chaddy Dean Smith: A Retrospective. The exhibition will be on view January 12- May 15, 2026, in The President's Gallery, located in the McDowell Business Administration Building across from room 295. The gallery is open weekly, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Celebrating the work of photographer Chaddy Dean Smith, the exhibition features his evocative explorations of the American landscape, which have garnered international recognition. Smith was awarded the title of Professor Emeritus of Art by the A&M System Board of Regents at the August 2025 board meeting.

About the Artist

A respected figure in the fields of art and photography education, Smith's work has been exhibited at prestigious venues worldwide, including a solo exhibition at the Manifest Creative Research Gallery in Cincinnati, the Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills, and the Pingyao International Photography Festival in China. Smith has work in the collection of the Southeast Museum of Photography in Daytona Beach, and his recent accolades include a Juror's Pick from the LensCulture Black & White Photography Awards and a Grand Jury Award Finalist at Manifest's Exhibition Season at the Creative Research and Drawing Center in Cincinnati.

Due to his extensive experience, dedication, and passion for teaching, Smith received the Honored Educator Award from the Society of Photographic Education in 2015 and the Star of Texas Award from the Texas Photography Instructors Association in 2023. Smith holds three degrees from East Texas A&M: a Bachelor of Science in Photography, a Master of Science in Art and a Master of Fine Arts, which he completed in 1993.

Smith taught at East Texas A&M University from 2003 to 2024.

About East Texas A&M University Art Galleries

The East Texas A&M Department of Art aims to inspire and prepare students to excel in various art professions and foster a lifelong appreciation of the visual arts.

The university has three exhibition spaces: the University Gallery located in the Art Building, the President’s Gallery in the Business Administration Building, and the Wathena Temple Project Space on the second floor of the Wathena Temple Fine Arts Building.

The University Gallery is reserved for exhibitions featuring artworks by East Texas A&M students and nationally and internationally recognized artists and designers. The gallery also hosts graduate critiques, thesis reviews, and the Annual Juried Student Art Show held every spring. The Wathena Temple Project Space and the President’s Gallery feature solo and group exhibitions created by currently enrolled students.