Lesa Smith is a self-taught artist based in Charleston, WV. As a child, she was fascinated by rock she found along the Kanawha River near her home. The impact of exploring the natural world and all of its colors, textures, lit a spark in her that would later rekindle into a new passion.

It took some time for that spark to fully reignite. After career ventures as a school teacher, fitness studio owner, vintage furniture shop owner, along with running a home staging company, Lesa also raised her four children and became a caregiver to her ailing parents. As a “vintage" adult, she found her art journey a way of finding hope and healing. Lesa longs to share this hope and healing with others through her art.

Lesa creates primarily abstract paintings that are often influenced by nature, songs and scripture. Layers, marks and drips, along with the use of natural materials like crushed river rocks creates the “controlled creative chaos” that is the environment in which Lesa’s creativity thrives.

Lesa has had paintings juried into several “Best of West Virginia” exhibitions at Tamarack Gallery in Beckley, WV. She has had paintings featured in several exhibitions hosted by the WV Culture Center at the State Capitol. Other notable exhibitions for Lesa include being one of the featured artists at the Spring Show 2025, Paragon Fine Art in Lewisburg, WV and having gallery representation from ADC Fine Art in Cincinnati, Ohio.