ART SMITH

Chef Art Smith’s passion for food, community, and human connection has made him one of the most respected and beloved figures in the culinary world. A two-time James Beard Foundation Award winner, Executive Chef, restaurateur, and philanthropist, Chef Art has built a career defined not only by culinary excellence but by purpose. As Executive Chef and Co-owner of six acclaimed restaurants spanning multiple cities, he has created dining destinations that celebrate Southern hospitality, storytelling, and the power of gathering around the table.

At the heart of his life’s work is Common Threads, the national nonprofit he founded to empower children and families through hands-on cooking and nutrition education. What began as a grassroots effort has grown into a nationally recognized organization that has reached hundreds of thousands of children across the country, equipping them with the skills and confidence to make healthier choices and build brighter futures through food.

Chef Art’s remarkable career includes serving as personal chef to Oprah Winfrey for a decade, beginning in 1997 — an experience that helped introduce his soulful, elevated Southern cuisine to a global audience. Over the years, he has cooked for two governors, five U.S. presidents, and an extraordinary roster of cultural icons and world leaders, including Lady Gaga, Barack and Michelle Obama, Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, and countless Hollywood luminaries. His food has graced intimate dinners, state functions, and historic celebrations alike.

Most recently, Chef Art achieved one of the most meaningful milestones of his career: opening a restaurant at the Vatican, an unprecedented honor that reflects his global reach and spiritual connection to hospitality. The project marked a historic moment, bringing his signature warmth and culinary vision to one of the world’s most sacred institutions. For Chef Art, the opportunity to cook for Pope Leo and help establish a presence at the Vatican was more than a professional achievement — it was a deeply personal and faith-filled experience that underscored his belief that food is a universal language of love.

Whether cooking in the White House, preparing a meal for global superstars, or teaching a child how to chop vegetables for the first time, Chef Art brings heart, joy, and an unwavering sense of togetherness to everything he does. Rooted in his Southern upbringing and guided by a mission to nourish the world — body and soul — Chef Art continues to prove that food is far more than what’s on the plate. It is connection. It is compassion. It is community.