Gary Smith was born and raised in Medical Springs, Oregon on a working cattle ranch, and his parents encouraged his early artistic promise. After service in Vietnam, Smith came home and started his journey to become one of the "Standard Bearers" of Contemporary Western Art. He has had over 40 major gallery/museum shows around the country, and he wanted to leave one last gift to his hometown. His retrospective exhibition "Towards Home" was on display at Crossroads Carnegie Art Center for 3 months in the summer of 2024.

Each piece pays homeage to the land and its stewards, the romance in ordinary ranch life, and the silent stories whispered by the land. Smith's artwork trancends traditional Western paintings, it produces a timeless representation of the ever-changing lifestyle experienced by the West. "That's why people buy original art...because the artist actually creates a living thing that has a spirit, " says Smith.

When asked about his paintings' inspiration, Smith responded, "To really understand the feel of the property and the landscape...we have to relate to it, we have to have an emotional attachment to that...that's what I'm trying to create...that sense of emotional attachment." He continues, saying, "People don't need to always understand art. But art can touch people beyond their understanding."