Gregory D. Smith joined the department in January 2005 as the Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Conservation Science. Before coming to Buffalo, Dr. Smith held the post of Samuel Golden Research Fellow for two years at the National Gallery of Art. Prior to his position at the Gallery, he also held postdoctoral research fellowships at the National Synchrotron Light Source and at University College London where he worked primarily with artifacts from the British Library and the Victoria & Albert Museum. Dr. Smith has been the recipient of a Marshall-Sherfield Postdoctoral Fellowship and a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship, as well as Howard-Hughes, Barry Goldwater, and NSF Undergraduate Fellowships.

Dr. Smith’s current research focus is modern artists’ materials, in particular acrylic emulsion paints, their formulations, and means of identification and characterization. His ongoing research projects include investigating the potential extraction of acrylic emulsion paint additives during aqueous cleaning treatments and issues related to the adhesion of waterborne coatings when used in mixed media with oil paints. These projects are being pursued in collaboration with conservation and coatings scientists and conservators at the National Gallery of Art (Washington), the Tate Gallery (London) , The Getty Conservation Institute (Los Angeles), and Golden Artist Colors (New Berlin, NY).

Dr. Smith lectures on analytical techniques and the chemistry of polymeric materials used in art and conservation. He maintains three teaching and research laboratories and a complement of microscopy, metallographic, spectroscopic, chromatographic, and thermal analysis instrumentation. Greg has been focused on promoting conservation science to undergraduate science majors and has received Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowships to mentor students for the past three years.
He is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Chemistry here at Buffalo State College and at the Advanced Residency Program in Photograph Conservation at the George Eastman House in Rochester, NY.

Recent Publications:
Hayes, J.; Golden, M.; Smith, G. D. “From Formulation to Finished Product: Causes and Potential Cures for Conservation Concerns in Acrylic Emulsion Paints” in Modern Paints Uncovered, T. J. S. Learner, P. Smithen, J. W. Kreuger, and M. R. Schilling (Eds.), Getty Conservation Institute: Los Angeles, 2007, 58-65.

Smith, G. D. “Aging Characteristics of a Contemporary Acrylic Emulsion Used in Artists’ Paints” in Modern Paints Uncovered, T. J. S. Learner, P. Smithen, J. W. Kreuger, and M. R. Schilling (Eds.), Getty Conservation Institute: Los Angeles, 2007, 234-244.

Lussier, S.; Smith, G. D. “A Review of the Phenomenon of Lead White Blackening and Conversion Treatment” Reviews in Conservation, 2007, 8, 41-53.

Smith, G. D.; Johnson, R. “Strip ‘Teas’ - Solubility Data for the Removal (and Application) of Low Molecular Weight Synthetic Resins Used as Inpainting Media and Picture Varnishes” WAAC Newsletter, 2008, 30(1), 11-19.

Hamm, J.; Smith, G. D.; Kushel, D.; DiJoseph, J. “What’s Wrong with This Picture: The Analysis of a Known Forgery” AIC Paintings Specialty Group Postprints, 2008, 20, 62-66.

Smith, G. D.; Klinshaw, R. J. “The Presence of Trapped Carbon Dioxide in Lapis Lazuli and Its Potential Use in Geo-sourcing Natural Ultramarine Pigment” Journal of Cultural Heritage, 2008, In press.

Recent Presentations:
2009 Invited Lecture on “Chemistry of Art”
Centre College, KY. Presented an invited lecture What’s Wrong with this Picture? The Technical Analysis of a Known Forgery and presented a demonstration on near-infrared imaging of artwork using a night-vision webcam.

2008 American Chemical Society, Rochester Local Section
Nazareth College. Presented an invited lecture What’s Wrong with This Picture? The Technical Analysis of a Known Forgery.

2008 Student Research & Creativity Celebration
Buffalo State College. Presented co-authored poster titled Spectroscopic Geo-Sourcing of Lapis Lazuli used in Artists’ Pigment Production.

2008 Memorial Art Gallery
Rochester, NY. Presented an invited talk to docents titled Conversant with Conservation?

2007 Geological Society of America
Denver, CO. Co-authored a presentation by an undergraduate student titled Spectroscopic Geo-Sourcing of Lapis Lazuli Used in Artists’ Paint Production.

2007 Memorial Art Gallery
Rochester, NY. Presented an invited talk titled What’s Wrong with This Picture? Technical Analysis of a Known Forgery.

2007 Student Research & Creativity Celebration
Buffalo State College. Presented co-authored poster titled Solubility & Physical Properties of Synthetic Polymers Used in the Conservation of Artwork.

2007 AIC Master Workshop: Modern Drawing and Painting Media
Pierpont Morgan Library, New York City. Presented an invited lecture entitled Chemical & Physical Properties of Acrylic Emulsion Paints.

2007 15th International On-Site Meeting
Baltimore. Md. Co-authored a presentation titled Material Evaluation Using Intelligent, Field-Portable Raman Spectroscopy

2007 AIC Annual Meeting
Richmond, VA. Co-authored a presentation titled What’s Wrong with This Picture? Analysis of a Known Forgery and a poster titled Material Analysis of a Carved Wooden Lacquer Sculpture.

2007 Memorial Art Gallery
Rochester, NY. Presented an invited talk titled The Arts-Science Interface or Divide as a continuing education course for high school art and science teachers.