Arriving at the residence of one of Fort Worth’s most endearing, colorful, and vocal advocates, it only takes me a moment to recognize that I am in the home of a true art enthusiast and keen-eyed collector.  As the doors of Christy Dunaway Smith’s foyer swing open, my eyes are treated to the first or many pieces that make up her family’s wonderful collection of oil paintings and other visual art.  Before we settle in for our conversation, Christy gives me a mini tour of their home and the works within. 

Later, during our sit-down interview, I will learn that these pieces have been collected slowly, methodically, and with input from multiple generations of her family.  In fact, when I ask her how long it has taken her to build her collection, she says, “It takes time.  It’s more than just filling wall space, so I don’t like to rush it.” 

Christy Dunaway Smith
Image: Laura McCarthy with Elusive Images

Christy claims to like ‘everything’, but for her home’s decor, her tastes clearly favor classic, old world paintings with their dark, saturated magnificence.  However, she does reserve certain spaces for bright, colorful pop-art, and scattered throughout are pieces from her own discipline and personal skillset: printmaking and three-dimensional, architectural art.

We settle into a room that includes a large oil painting that Christy commissioned from renowned artist, Nancy Lamb, and the joyful colors on the canvas perfectly capture the spirit of its owner.  Her connection to Nancy extends back many decades; Christy was a childhood attendee of the long running Museum School at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, and one of her most beloved teachers was none other than Ms. Lamb. Clearly, she enjoyed her time there tremendously, because she tells me that she enrolled her own children as soon as they were old enough to go!

This direct, tangible connection to museums as a young girl is something Mrs. Smith says played a huge influence on her eventual life in the arts.  Additionally, she says that she was constantly exposed to fine art that in her parent’s home as a child.  Christy reveals that her parents realized very early that creative outlets proved to be the best way to focus her youthful energy, and many of those activities propelled her, not only throughout her adolescence, but all the way to the Meadows School of the Arts at SMU, where she majored in Art History and minored in Studio Art – Printmaking. 

Stunning artwork in Christy's movie room

I first met Christy during the Balenciaga Gala at the Kimbell Art Museum a few years ago. I quicky discovered that in addition to being the face of one the funniest lifestyle and pro-Fort Worth platforms out there, SoFortWorthIt, Christy and her husband Jason were also regular benefactors and champions of Fort Worth’s art community.  Over the years, they have worked as supporters and fundraisers for the aforementioned Fort Worth Museum (the Children’s Museum, in particular), the Kimbell Art Museum, and the Fort Worth Arts Council (now Arts Fort Worth).

Collectors come in all shapes and sizes, of course, so I am always curious to learn about the motivations that inform the art buying decisions of both occasional and prominent collectors.  For the Smiths, and for Christy’s family, the Dunaway’s, the process is truly a family affair.  Acquiring new pieces of art is something that they regularly do together, and they all bring their own tastes, knowledge of specific artists (and their works), and their insights into the investment potential of certain collections when purchasing. 

The extended family has traveled together to New York to attend the Big Apple’s many galleries and auctions, as you might expect, but Christy tells me that her favorite, not-so-secret art buying tip is to go to the art auctions in New Orleans and to J. Garrett auction house in Dallas.

‘Art as an investment’ is certainly not new, but with the volatility of global markets and the never-ending speculation on things like Bitcoin and NFT’s, investors have gravitated to fine art like never before.  Christy’s personal collection has changed over time to reflect this trend, too.

Gorgeous cherub paintings in the entry.

“When I was younger, I loved collecting art simply because it spoke to my heart, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve tried to focus more on pieces that will be good investments. And I’ve gotten lucky.  There are a few pieces I’ve purchased that have definitely gone up in value.  But even now, if I see something that I love and I know that will work perfect in a particular space, I’ll still buy it, even if there’s not much investment potential!”

Christy Dunaway Smith & Nancy Lamb
Photo: Laura McCarthy with Elusive Images

We are blessed to have so many wonderful artists in Fort Worth, both established and up-and-coming, but it is equally important to have people like Christy, the Smith’s, the Dunaway’s, and others like them who are willing to support and sustain their creativity.  Without people who appreciate art, who work to elevate artists, and most importantly, contribute to their financial wellbeing by collecting from these artisans, a thriving art community cannot exist.

By donating her time, her resources, and her passions to the arts, and by volunteering and fundraising for the many art institutions of her hometown, Christy Dunaway Smith definitely makes living in Fort Worth…so worth it!

Article & Video by: Mouty Shackelford
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