Born in Philadelphia, Cedric Smith spent summers with his grandmother, who lived outside of Macon in Thomaston, GA, a relationship that deepened when his family moved back to Georgia. That close relationship is referenced in much of Smith's work, which incorporates stories, recipes, even fabric patterns from her home.

Smith currently lives and works in both Atlanta and Savannah, GA.

Smith's work begins with photographs—images he has made or ones he has selected from his collection of vintage photos—which he then paints into an imaginary world. These paintings often take the shape of a faux advertisement, similar to what might be found on a back road barn or fading into the side of a small-town grocery. The images appear weathered and out of the past, but from each one the central figure's calm, even gaze engages the viewer in a very modern way. Growing up, Smith saw a lot of negative imagery and stereotypes of African-Americans, especially in advertising. He began creating his own series of ads that invoked a separate, parallel reality. Yet the pieces go beyond nostalgia or history, and as a body of work, create a commentary on life in the times portrayed.