New Public Art Exhibit

Published on March 30, 2026

The City of Aurora’s Public Art Division is excited to unveil a new exhibit on

Friday, April 3, that marks the homecoming of a world-renowned sculptor and historian.

Dr. Charles Smith’s “A Truth in Stone and Spirit” features a profound blend of personal memory, news stories, and national narratives. Using a unique technique he calls ‘weatherization,’ Dr. Smith constructs life-sized figures from found materials and cement mixtures, allowing the outdoor elements to create a natural patina that symbolizes the resilience and endurance of the African American spirit.

“Everything moves along extemporaneously as God moves me,’ says Dr. Smith. ‘He shows me how to do it, where to put it, and how to construct it.”

Dr. Smith, a Marine Corps Purple Heart veteran and ordained minister, founded the African American Heritage Museum and the Black Veterans Archive to serve as a pedagogical tool for youth. His work challenges traditional monuments by elevating the stories of everyday heroes and historical figures.

“We invite the community to engage with a visionary who turned a private struggle into a public sanctuary,” Curator Sangeeta Pande said. “We celebrate not only the artist and the Marine Corps veteran, but the historian who continues to teach us that through stone, spirit, and memory, we can find the path to a collective homecoming.”

This exhibition offers a rare opportunity for the community to engage with a living legend whose work is preserved by major institutions, including the Smithsonian and the John Michael Kohler Arts Center.

The public is invited to attend the free opening reception, taking place from 6 P.M. to 9 P.M. Additionally, Dr. Smith will host a public meet and greet on Friday, April 17, from 2 P.M. to 4 P.M.

Aurora Public Art is located at 20 E. Downer Place in Downtown Aurora. Gallery hours are from 12 P.M. to 4 P.M. on Wednesday through Friday, and from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. on Saturday. The exhibit is set to run from April 3 through April 24.