Photo credit: Jiayue Yu, www.jiayue-yu.com

Marianna Smith is a Brazilian-American children’s book illustrator, cartoonist, and art educator based in Virginia. Her Brazilian cultural heritage and childhood memories inspire her work. Utilizing a bold, expressive watercolor and ink technique, Smith captures joy and emotion in her work.

Smith’s work has garnered recognition from The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles and the iJungle awards. Her work has also been shortlisted by Communication Arts and was featured at ICON13.

Smith has a BFA in Communication Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University and an MFA in Illustration from Syracuse University.

Smith serves as an Adjunct Art Instructor at Virginia Commonwealth University.

For work inquiries, contact ms@mariannasmith.com

Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION

2026 - Master of Fine Arts - Syracuse University

2020 - Bachelor of Fine Arts - Virginia Commonwealth University

PUBLICATIONS

2027 Ramirez, Ainissa. There’s the Rub: The Hidden World of Friction. Illustrated by Marianna Smith, Charlesbridge, 2027.

2024 Smith, Marianna. “True Love Extends to the Ends of the Earth.” Reed Magazine, no. 157, 2024, pp. 89.

2020 Smith, Marianna. “Alley Off Floyd Avenue.” PWA-TEM 2020: An Anthology of Literature and Art, 2020, pp. 48-49.

HONORS AND AWARDS

2026 Communication Arts 2026, Illustration Shortlist

2026 iJungle 2026, New Talent Merit Award, Student Work

EXHIBITIONS AND SHOWS

2026 Smith, Marianna. Golden and A Summer in Ubatuba. Viewfinder: ICON13 Gallery Show, 15 July 2026 – 18 July 2026, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore.

2026 Smith, Marianna. ICON13 Roadshow, 16 July 2026, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore.

2026 Smith, Marianna. Our Family Book. Here’s the Thing: 2026 M.F.A. Exhibition Part I, 27 Mar. 2026 – April 4, 2026, Nancy Cantor Warehouse Gallery, Syracuse.

2026 Smith, Marianna. My Soul is My Captain. Harsh is Where We Live, 12 Mar. 2026 – 15 Mar. 2026, Microscope Gallery, New York.

2026 Smith, Marianna. A Summer in Ubatuba. Illustration West 64, May 2026 – present, The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles, illustrationwest.org/64/student/a-summer-in-ubatuba/.

2025 Smith, Marianna. Support Young Latin American Mothers. Illustration West 63, May 2025 – present, The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles, illustrationwest.org/63/student/support-young-latin-american-mothers/.

2023 Marianna Smith’s Percy the Pesky Squirrel, 7 Nov. 2023 – 10 Jan. 2024, Biblio Gallery, Syracuse.

PRESS

2026 Qasim, Sheza. “‘Here’s the Thing’ Warehouse exhibition displays varied mediums in phases.” The Daily Orange, 31 Mar. 2026, https://dailyorange.com/2026/03/heres-the-thing-warehouse-exhibition-displays-mediums-in-phases/.

2024 “Meet Marianna Smith.” Canvas Rebel, 25 June 2024, https://canvasrebel.com/meet-marianna-smith/.

2024 “Marianna Smith on Art and Belonging.” The News House, 22 April 2024, https://thenewshouse.com/entertainment/arts-and-culture/marianna-smith-on-art-and-belonging/.