Smithson was born in Passaic, New Jersey and studied painting and drawing in New York City at the Art Students League of New York from 1955 to 1956 and then briefly at the Brooklyn Museum School.
Smithson was born in Passaic. Smithson was studied painting and drawing in New York City at the Art Students League of New York from 1955 to 1956 and then briefly at the Brooklyn Museum School. Passaic was New Jersey.