COLLECTIONS


Art Institute of Chicago
AIGA, American Institute of Graphic Arts
Canadian Museum of Photography
Carlton University Art Gallery
Design Exchange, Toronto
Denver Art Museum
Parsons New School for Design
National Archive of Canada
National Gallery of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
National Portrait Gallery
Royal Ontario Museum


AWARDS


2023

“Legend” Status by CAPIC 1 of 5 Photographers honoured in annual exhibition. Toronto.

2019

The Luminato Festival, RCM “The Alchemy of Place”, The Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto
BCO_UK Shortlist British Council of Offices: Refit, Reception & Cafe

2018

Hot Docs, RCM “The Alchemy of Place”, The Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto

2015

The Cassies Awards – Service Category – Bronze Award.

2014

North American Council of Advancement & Support of Education– Gold, Silver, Bronze Award.
Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education – Silver Award.

2010

Marketing Awards – Best in Category (NFP), Gold, 2 Silvers

2009

ADCC The Ad and Design Club of Canada, 50 Years, Winning Memories.

2007

Graphis Photo
Graphis Brochures 6 – Platinum
Heart of Umbria Award / L’Umbria del Cuore, Corciano (PG), Italy
22nd AR100 Award Show
ADCC The Ad and Design Club of Canada, Directions

2006

Graphis Nudes 4
Communication Arts Interactive Annual 12
Cassies – Bronze Campaign
Marketing Magazine – Silver & Bronze Campaign

2005

Luerzer’s Archive Volume One
Cannes Lion Showcase
Communication Arts Advertising Annual
STEP 100 Design Awards
Institute of Communication in Advertising
Century of Advertising – Top Ten Ads of the Century
Marketing Magazine Awards

2004

Communication Arts Design Annual
The New York Type Directors Club
Coupe Design Awards
How Magazine
Applied Arts Award Annual
ADCC The Ad and Design Club of Canada

2003

Graphis Magazine Issue 346
Communication Arts May / June Issue
Coupe Design Awards
ADCC The Ad and Design Club of Canada
The Houston Film Festival – Silver, 3 Bronze

2002

Graphis Photo
Graphis Advertising
The One Show
AIGA Graphic Design USA – 50 Books / 50 Covers
D&AD 40 – The Designers and Art Directors Club of the United Kingdom
81st Art Directors Club of New York Annual
Communication Arts Advertising Annual
The Houston Film Festival – 2 Platinum, Gold Jury Award, Silver
Applied Arts Award Annual
Directions: ADCC The Ad and Design Club of Canada

2001

Graphis Photo
Communication Arts September / October Issue
The Houston Film Festival – Silver, Bronze
Applied Arts Award Annual
Directions: ADCC The Ad and Design Club of Canada – 4 Silver

2000

Graphis Poster
Graphis Design
Graphis Advertising
Graphis Magazine Issue 325
Communication Arts Photography Annual
AIGA Graphic Design USA 22
Directions: ADCC The Ad and Design Club of Canada – 4 Silver
Applied Arts Award Volume 15
Applied Arts Award Annual
Adcritic.com – #1 Top Ten Commercials
Adcritic.com – #15 Top 100 Commercials

1999

Communication Arts Design Annual 40
Typography 20: The Annual of The Type Directors Club
Directions: ADCC The Ad and Design Club of Canada
The Bessie Awards
ADCC The Ad and Design Club of Canada – 50th Anniversary Exhibition
Applied Arts Award Annual

1998

Graphis Book Design 2
Graphis Brochure 3
Graphis Book Design
Communication Arts Design Annual 39
Critique – The Magazine of Design Thinking
Directions: ADCC The Ad and Design Club of Canada – Gold, 3 Silver
Applied Arts Award Annual
AR100 13th Annual Report Show

1997

76th New York Art Directors Club Annual – Distinctive Merit
D&AD 36 – The Designers and Art Directors Club of the United Kingdom
AIGA Graphic Design USA 19
Directions: ADCC The Ad and Design Club of Canada – Gold
Applied Arts Award Annual
Applied Arts Magazine Annual Reports
The Bessie Awards – Campaign Gold First, Gold, Silver
Extra Awards – Newspaper Ad – Gold Campaign, Gold
Extra Awards – Newspaper Ad – Silver Campaign, Silver

1996

Graphis Annual Report 7
Graphis Design
Graphis Magazine Back Cover 3 Issues / 1996
D&AD 35 – The Designers and Art Directors Club of the United Kingdom – Silver
AIGA Graphic Design USA 18
75th New York Art Directors Club Annual
Mead Annual Report Show
Typography 17 – The Annual of the Type Directors Club
Directions: ADCC The Ad and Design Club of Canada – Gold, 4 Silver
Studio Magazine Awards Annual – Gold, 2 Silver
Applied Arts Award Annual
Mobius Award – Gold Single
Adweek Best Spots – March ’96, May ’96
CLIO Awards – Shortlist Single (3), Campaign (1)
The Bessie Awards – Campaign Gold First, Gold, Silver, 2 Bronze
Marketing Magazine Awards – 2 Silver, 2 Bronze

1995

Graphis Photo
Graphis Alternative Photography
Graphis Design
SPD: Society of Publication Designers 30
Communication Arts May / June Issue
Directions: ADCC The Ad and Design Club of Canada
Applied Arts Award Annual
74th New York Art Directors Club Annual – Silver
London International Festival
New York Festival
Leo Burnett Worldwide – Gold Award For Best Campaign Worldwide
Mobius Award Gold Campaign
Advertising Age ’95 – Certificate of Creative Excellence
The Bessie Awards – 1ST 2 Commercials Awarded
Casey Awards – Gold Creativity
Saatchi & Saatchi First Cut Award – 2 Years in Film
Applied Arts Award Magazine Volume 10, Number 3

1994

Graphis Photo
Communication Arts May / June Issue – Feature Article on Ron Baxter Smith
Communication Arts Design Annual 35
AR100 – 10th Annual Report Show
Directions: ADCC The Ad and Design Club of Canada – Gold
APP Applied Arts Award Magazine Volume 9, Number 1 / Volume 9, Number 2

1993

Graphis Nudes 1
Graphis Photo
Graphis Design
D&AD 31 – The Designers and Art Directors Club of The United Kingdom
Communications Arts Photography Annual 34
Communication Arts Design Annual 34
SPD: Society of Publication 28 – 2 Silver
American Photography 9
New York Creativity 23
AR100 9th Annual Report Show
Directions: ADCC The Ad and Design Club of Canada – Gold
Studio Magazine Awards – 2 Gold
Studio Magazine Annual Reports
Applied Arts Award Magazine Volume 8, Number 3

1992

Graphis Annual Reports 3
Graphis Design
Communication Arts Photography Annual 33
Communication Arts Design Annual 33
Graphic Design New York
Applied Arts Award Magazine Volume 7, Number 1
SPD: Society of Publication 27
AIGA Graphic Design USA 13
AR100 8th Annual Report Show
Directions: ADCC The Ad and Design Club of Canada – Gold
Studio Magazine Awards – Gold, Silver
Print Regional Design Annual
Print Magazine January / February Issue

1991

Graphis Design
The 70th Art Directors Club of New York Annual
Communication Arts Design Annual 32
SPD: Society of Publication 25
Mead Annual Report Show
AIGA Graphic Design USA 12
Print Casebooks 9
AR100 7th Annual Report Show
Directions: ADCC The Ad and Design Club of Canada – Gold
Catalogue and Pamphlet – Tokyo, Japan.

1990

Graphis Design
Communication Arts Design Annual 31
Communication Arts May / June Issue
AIGA Graphic Design USA 11
Photo Design Magazine Sept. / Oct. Issue
Print Magazine Jan. / Feb. Issue
Print Magazine March / April Issue
New York Creativity 19
AR100 6th Annual Report Show
Directions: ADCC The Ad and Design Club of Canada – 2 Gold

1989

Graphis Packaging 5
The 69th Art Directors Club of New York Annual
Communication Arts Design Annual 30
Mead Annual Report Show
AR100 5th Annual Report Show
Directions: ADCC The Ad and Design Club of Canada – Gold
Print Magazine Jan. / Feb. Issue
New York Creativity 18

1988

Graphis Design
Graphis Poster
The 67th Art Directors Club of New York Annual
Communication Arts May / June Issue
STA 100 Type Directors Club of Chicago
New York Creativity 17
Directions: ADCC The Ad and Design Club of Canada – Gold

1987

Graphis Design
AIGA Graphic Design USA 8
Directions: ADCC The Ad and Design Club of Canada – Silver

1986

Directions: ADCC The Ad and Design Club of Canada – 3 Silver

1985

High Styles: Twentieth Century American Design – The Whitney Museum
Directions: ADCC The Ad and Design Club of Canada

1983

Commenced Ron Baxter Smith Photographer Limited June, 1983.

1981

Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance Grant

1980

Canada Council “B” Grant – 1 Year.

1976

National Film Board of Canada, Stills Division Major Purchase for Canada Wide Exhibition

1975

National Film Board of Canada, Stills Division Travel Assistance Grant to Study and Photograph in Italy
Photography Grant, York University to Document Campanile, Pisa, Italy


EXHIBITIONS


Selected Solo Exhibitions

2022, November, C_N1, 2020, Lynn Atelier, London, United Kingdom.
2019, September, The Twins, Oliver Gordon Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
2015, September, Untitled, Akasha Art Projects, Toronto, Canada.
2012, January, Retrospective, Lynn Atelier, London, United Kingdom.
2009, May, The Mandrake Root, Oliver Gordon Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
2007, August, Trenta Anni, Antico Mulino, Corciano, Italy.
1980, July, Recent Work SX-70, A Moment In Time Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
1980, October, Street Light/ Day Light, ICA Library, United States Consulate, Toronto, Canada.
1980, SX-70, Galerie Articule, Montréal, Canada.
1975-1977, June , 80 B&W Photographs, Still Photography Division, National Film Board of Canada, Exhibition of photographs purchased by NFB toured throughout Canada at NFB Offices and Educational Venues for several years.


Selected Group Exhibitions

2023, June, Xpose – Legends, CAPIC, Toronto, Canada.
2009, January, The Big Picture 2, Oliver Gordon Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
2008, November, The Big Picture 1, Oliver Gordon Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
1997, Tater Alexander Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
1990, Impressions of African Americans In American Culture, Parsons School of Design, New York, N.Y., USA.
1982, Ron Baxter Smith/Steven Evans, The Burton Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
1980, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
1979, The International Year of the Child, Madison Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1979, Clouds and Water, Gallery Two, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
1979, May, July Fifteenth, Nineteen Seventy-Eight, Resolution Gallery, Toronto, Canada
1978, February, The Canadian Connection, Neikrug Photographica Gallery, New York, N.Y. U.S.A.
1978, November, Baczynski/ Ryan/ Smith, The Photography Gallery, Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada
1977, Canada/U.S.S.R. Society Group Exhibition, toured the Soviet Union
1976, York University Photographers Group Exhibition, Il Diaframma Gallery, Milan, Italy. Toured Italy.
1976, The Shado Gallery, Oregon City, Oregon, U.S.A.
1977, 21 Photographers, The Photo Gallery, The National Film Board of Canada, Still Photography Division, Ottawa
1975, The National Film Board Stills Division Photo Festival, The Photo Gallery, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
1975, January, Gallery Graphics, Ottawa, Ontario
1975, November, Exposure, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada



BIOGRAPHY


Ron Baxter Smith is a Canadian artist, photographer and director who takes much of his inspiration from his years in Italy. As an assignment photographer and director/cameraman, he has worked for clients in the UK, USA, Italy and his home country of Canada. He has been the recipient of over 500 awards, with 80 of those as medals, for his photography and television commercials in the USA, UK, Canada and Japan. He has been the recipient of The Heart of Umbria, Italy Award and a year’s Canada Council Grant. His work is in the collection of The Art Institute of Chicago, The AIGA, The National Gallery and The National Portrait Gallery of Canada, The Museum of Contemporary Photography, The Art Gallery of Ontario, The Royal Ontario Museum and more.

Born: Toronto, Canada, 1953.
Hon. BFA., BEd. York University, Toronto, 1976.
Art History, Florence, Italy: University of British Columbia, 1975.

EXHIBITIONS / Solo

2023, June, Corso C_N1, Oliver Gordon Gallery, Perugia, Italy.
2023, May, C_N1, Lynn Atelier, Felixstowe, Suffolk, United Kingdom.
2022, November, C_N1, Lynn Atelier, London, United Kingdom.
2015, September, Untitled, Akasha Art Projects, Toronto, Canada.
2012, January, Retrospective, Lynn Atelier, London, United Kingdom.
2009, May, The Mandrake Root, Oliver Gordon Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
2007, August, Trenta Anni, Antico Mulino, Corciano, Italy.
1980, July, Recent Work SX-70, A Moment In Time Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
1980, October, Street Light/ Day Light, ICA Library, United States Consulate, Toronto, Canada.
1980, SX-70, Galerie Articule, Montréal, Canada.
1975-1977, June , 80 B&W Photographs, Still Photography Division, National Film Board of Canada, Exhibition of photographs purchased by NFB toured throughout Canada at NFB Offices and Educational Venues for several years.

EXHIBITIONS / Group

2023, June, Xpose – Legends, CAPIC, Toronto, Canada.
2009, January, The Big Picture 2, Oliver Gordon Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
2008, November, The Big Picture 1, Oliver Gordon Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
1997, Tater Alexander Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
1990, Impressions of African Americans In American Culture, Parsons School of Design, New York, N.Y., USA.
1982, Ron Baxter Smith/Steven Evans, The Burton Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
1980, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
1979, The International Year of the Child, Madison Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1979, Clouds and Water, Gallery Two, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
1979, May, July Fifteenth, Nineteen Seventy-Eight, Resolution Gallery, Toronto, Canada
1978, February, The Canadian Connection, Neikrug Photographica Gallery, New York, N.Y. U.S.A.
1978, November, Baczynski/ Ryan/ Smith, The Photography Gallery, Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada
1977, Canada/U.S.S.R. Society Group Exhibition, toured the Soviet Union
1976, York University Photographers Group Exhibition, Il Diaframma Gallery, Milan, Italy. Toured Italy.
1976, The Shado Gallery, Oregon City, Oregon, U.S.A.
1977, 21 Photographers, The Photo Gallery, The National Film Board of Canada, Still Photography Division, Ottawa
1975, The National Film Board Stills Division Photo Festival, The Photo Gallery, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
1975, January, Gallery Graphics, Ottawa, Ontario
1975, November, Exposure, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

HIGHLIGHTS

– 500 awards from competitions in Canada, U.S.A., U.K. and, Japan.
– 80 medals in the D and AD in the UK, the ADC in New York, the ADCC of Canada
– Fruit of the Loom Commercial was included in the “Top Ten Ads of the Century”
– Feature article in Communication Arts Magazine, 1994.
– Invited to be one of the 100 Best Photographers in the World by Martin Pederson of Graphis Photo.
– Director/Cinematographer – 1990-2013, 2017 – 2019
– 130 Corporate Annual Reports in 7 years – 1988-1995
– AIGA has an archive of his awarded work including 50 Books / 50 Covers,

– Mead Annual Report Show. 2 x
– P
hoto-Illustrations for GQ – 1991-1994
– Graphis Photo, Nudes, Design, Advertising, Brochures, Poster and Alternative Photography.
– Curious Papers UK, Arjo Wiggins, – 100 awards incl. Platinum Award, Graphis Brochures., AIGA Design Archive.
– Editorial commissions for GQ, Men’s Journal, Discover, The New York Times, Discover, Time, Newsweek.
– Photographs have appeared in Vogue, Elle Decor, Wallpaper, W and Vanity Fair.
– 2 Stamps for Canada Post. 1. On Education 2. Millennium Stamps to honour Canadian invention of Pablum.
– Heart of Umbria Award, 2007, by Province of Umbria, Italy.
– Given annually to five artists with outstanding achievement who have made Umbria their second home.
– Fellow recipient was Academy Award winning composer, Ennio Morricone.
– The Province of Umbria celebrated with an Exhibition in Coricano and a Monograph of his photography.
– Director and Director/Cameraman, “Fruit of the Loom” commercials won over 15 medals, mainly gold,
– Leo Burnett Gold Campaign of the Year – “Stuck, Fruit of the Loom”
– Top Ten Ads of the Century by the Advertising Council of Canada, “Stuck, Fruit of the Loom”
– Lurzer’s Archive  Search “Ron Baxter Smith”
– Canada Council “B” Grant, 1980, 1 Year for Photography.
– Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance Grant for American Consulate Exhibition.

NARRATIVE

Photography was always destined to be at the center of my life’s work. Encouraged by my parents at a young age probably because photography was my father’s hobby before I was born. He had sold his equipment when I came along to have the extra money, but there was one 2 ¼ square camera that he taught me how to load and it changed my life. This became an interest that carried through high school into university.

As an artist, photographer and director, I have been the recipient of over 500 awards for photography and television commercials in both my personal and commissioned work in the USA, UK, Japan and Canada.

In 2007, I was awarded The Heart of Umbria Award by the Italian Province of Umbria where, along with a solo exhibition of my work, they produced a monograph of my photography. In 1994, Communication Arts Magazine in Palo Alto, CA wrote a feature article making me the first Canadian photographer whose work was featured in their magazine. In 1981, I was awarded an Ontario Arts Council Grant for a solo exhibition at The American Consulate in Toronto. In 1980, I received a Canada Council Grant for a year-long project to concentrate on my personal photography. And in 1975 and ’76 The National Film Board of Canada purchased over 150 of my photographs for a traveling national exhibition which toured Canada and were then included into their permanent collection, now housed in The Canadian Center for Photography in Ottawa.

Through my work with designers and advertising agencies, I have been awarded over 80 Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze awards for the excellence of my work. One of my television commercials was included in the Top Ten Ads of the Century by the Advertising Council in 2000.

The AIGA, The American Institute of Graphic Arts, has an online library in their archive dedicated to my work which has been awarded and collected over the years. The ADCC, The Advertising and Design Club of Canada, also has an online archive of my awarded work, being just shy of 100 entries for this competition alone.  ADCC.

During my career, I have created photographs for two stamps for Canada Post. One was to honour Public School Education and another was a Millennium Stamp commemorating the Canadian invention of Pablum. It was a portrait of a young girl with Pablum around her mouth, which became banners outside The National Portrait Gallery in Ottawa.

For 22 years I have been a director or director/cinematographer working in film for broadcast communication.

My wife, Beverly, and I have successfully had a freelance photography company for 36 years where we have worked for many of the largest North American and UK companies, banks and institutions. My photographs and portraits are in the collections of many of these major corporations. I have shot for many editorial magazines, for example, GQ (Gentlemen’s Quarterly), Men’s Journal, Discover, The New York Times Magazine, Newsweek and Men’s German Vogue as well as having a Conde Nast contract for 4 years, from 1993 – 1997.

I have served on the Board of the Art Director’s Club of Canada, been a Member of the American Society of Media Photographers and have judged several competitions for the Canadian Association of Photographers and Illustrators in Communication including Album Cover Design for the Juno Awards for Canadian Music.

In 2008, my work was selected by Graphis, New York / Zurich to be included in a compilation of the 100 Best Photographers in the World. Unfortunately due to the economy in 2008, the book was never produced. My photography, however, has been  included in other Graphis compilations where only the best work is chosen in any given year; Graphis’ Photography, Nudes, Design, Brochures, Advertising, Poster, Annual Reports, Typography and Alternative Photography Annuals. In 1994, the Art Directors Club of New York, chose me to be included in a book of 13 photographers who used the computer to create their images. I declined, to their disbelief, as my work was entirely created in camera.

For 17 years I held an H1, O1 and an E1 Visa to live and work freelance in The United States due to my ‘outstanding achievement’ in photography. I also hold an Ancestry Visa for the UK and an Elective Resident Visa for Italy including having been given individual Visas to work in South Africa and Mexico on specific projects.

For solo and group exhibitions in The United States, Italy and Canada, see Bio.

My work is in the collections of many museums in both the US and Canada; for example, The Art Institute of Chicago, The AIGA, The National Gallery of Canada, The National Portrait Gallery of Canada, The Museum of Contemporary Photography, The Art Gallery of Ontario, The Royal Ontario Museum and more.

Having studied at York University, Toronto, I graduated in 1976 with an Hon. BFA. and an Hon. Ed., also studying Art History in Florence, Italy through the University of British Columbia with the assistance of a research grant from York University to photograph the fresco cycle in the Camposanto in Pisa, Italy.