Lea M. Smith

Lea M. Smith, 56, died unexpectedly in the sanctuary of her home art studio in Winston-Salem, NC, on October 5, 2026.

Trying to memorialize Lea with words on a page is like trying to catch sunlight with a net. Words, even good words, feel paltry in an effort to adequately encapsulate who Lea was. Lea was a pigeonhole-defying tide of kinetic, joy-inducing energy that you had to experience to truly understand.

Lea lived a life, both personal and professional, of reinvention and evolution. Whether you knew her as Lea, Leam, Lee, Lee Michael, Mickey, or Jack B. Quick—or called her she, he, or they—wearing any rigid label long-term was, for Lea, as uncomfortable as a scratchy tag in a shirt neckline. Above it all, Lea delighted in being described as “a teddy bear in a porcupine coat.”

Born into a maternal lineage that is rich with exceptionally talented fine artists, craftsmen, and musicians, Lea’s creative roots ran deep and wide. The family is composed of accomplished illustrators, painters, graphic designers, musicians, an engraver and a furniture maker, all of whom inspired and fostered Lea’s love of, and dedication to, art, music, and creativity.

Lea’s own formal artistic training took her from the North Carolina School of the Arts in high school to the Corcoran College of Art + Design, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with honors. Beyond her 38 years as a professional tattoo artist, Lea's fine art focused on vibrant, mixed-media collage.

Humble, honest, loyal, dependable, and always grateful for her clients, Lea’s work ethic and deep integrity guided everything she created. Even while enduring over two decades of unmanaged, intense physical pain —exacerbated by bending over to tattoo for hours at a time— Lea remained stoically quiet about it and tattooed with discipline and intense focus, always putting the comfort, well-being, and fairness of others ahead of her own ease.

Outside of the seriousness with which Lea approached her craft, she navigated daily life with a spontaneous playfulness, unbridled exuberance, and a radiant, whole-souled, infectious laugh, remaining utterly devoid of pretense, cruelty, or malice. Lea possessed an innate ability to make room for anyone and to make you feel seen. Like a young Vincent van Gogh living in Borinage—giving away his money, clothes, and food until he had nothing left for himself—Lea’s radical selflessness, generosity, and fierce sense of duty to care for others will remain one of her greatest legacies.

After nearly four decades of dedication to her work, thousands of people walk through the world carrying Lea's talent on their bodies and walls. Lea left an indelible mark—both literal and figurative—on everyone who knew her. Lea is preceded in death by her father, Ricky Smith. She is survived by her mother, Christy Cline Smith; brother, Billy Stewart; older sisters, Annie Brown and Sarah Black; younger sister, Venica Smith; many beloved nieces and nephews; and a vast, vast constellation of friends, chosen family, and fellow artists who will forever miss her chaotic warmth, sparkly mind, and benevolent heart.

A memorial gathering to celebrate Lea’s life will be held on Saturday, October 31, 2026, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Lea’s residence, 3064 Old Sides Mill Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.

In lieu of flowers, Lea’s family kindly requests that memorial donations be made to the Whitman-Walker Foundation, an organization that provided invaluable support and care to Lea.

Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel is assisting Lea’s family.