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Miriam Smith moved to Laguna Beach in 1974, and her support and involvement in the art community have been extensive. She has contacts with leading scholars and experts internationally and founded the Art Resource Group in 1987, a firm that advises clients on the value of artworks, acquisitions, and de-acquisitions. Ms. Smith is a Member of the Appraisers Association of America, with expertise in 19th and 20th Century American and European art. Five years before forming her own company, Miriam Smith was Senior Associate and Project Director for James Lodge and Associates in 1982. Ms. Smith worked directly with James Lodge, a Certified Senior Appraiser with the Appraisers Association of America and established the corporate art division of the company. Her primary project experience includes the management of corporate and private art collections and consultation on art purchases for office buildings, private residences, restaurants, hotels, municipalities, and public centers.

Miriam studied studio arts and art history at the Art Center College of Design, Otis Parsons in Los Angeles, and had a Special Study program at the Laguna College of Art and Design. Ms. Smith’s diversified background and studies include intensive collecting and in-field research of Oceanic and Pacific ethnic and contemporary art. Before forming her company, she was a professional artist, and her critical acclaim as a painter further underscores her deep understanding of the art world.

Miriam’s commitment to the arts is extensive and inspiring. She has held two former trusteeships on the Laguna Art Museum’s Board of Directors, is a member of the National Association for Corporate Art Management and has served on the Boards of both the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art and The Bowers Museum of Cultural Art (Collectors’ Council).

Miriam’s knowledge and expertise extend beyond her professional roles. She has shared her insights at major universities, private corporations, architectural firms, and business organizations, covering a wide range of subjects from basic art history and the art market to organizing tours of public art. Her roles as a curator, exhibition juror, and lecturer on art and business further demonstrate her dedication to the arts.