During the last four decades of the twentieth century, Smith became one of the best-known photographers of his hometown, New Orleans. The author of five photo collections, Smith photographed each New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival from 1970 until 2004. While his photos of individual musicians brought him fame, Smith’s work also provides a valuable visual record of New Orleans’s brass bands, social aid and pleasure club parades, jazz funerals, neighborhood Mardi Gras celebrations, and spiritual churches.
- Subject Matter
- Portrait
- Collections
- City of New Orleans Percent for Art
About the artist
Michael P. Smith
American
1937-2008
During the last four decades of the twentieth century, Smith became one of the best-known photographers of his hometown, New Orleans. The author of five photo collections, Smith photographed each New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival from 1970 until 2004. While his photos of individual musicians brought him fame, Smith’s work also provides a valuable visual record of New Orleans’s brass bands, social aid and pleasure club parades, jazz funerals, neighborhood Mardi Gras celebrations, and spiritual churches.
