Ben Luke talks to Gary Simmons about his influences – from musicians to writers, filmmakers and, of course, other artists – and the cultural experiences that have shaped his life and work.
by Gary Simmons Errant wave (2021)
© Gary Simmons / Photo: Jeff McLane
Simmons, born in New York in 1964 and based in Los Angeles, is an important figure in a generation of politically engaged and artistically ambitious American artists who emerged in the early 1990s. Gary explores the complexities of race and gender. class through media, including chalkboard drawings, sculpture, installation, architectural environments, and painting.
Installation view by Gary Simmons Reflection of a future past (2006) in1964 at the Bohen Foundation, New York, New York
© Gary Simmons / Photo: Tom Powell, courtesy of the Bohen Foundation
He draws inspiration from a variety of references, including pop culture such as cartoons and sports, to create works that address systemic and persistent biases and the nature of memory. Gary’s language is deeply personal and informed by his own experiences, but also draws on images with collective, albeit unstable, meanings.
by Gary Simmons Enter the Arena (The Essentialist Trap) (1994)
© Gary Simmons / Photo: Sheldan C. Collins
• Gary Simmons: Public Enemy, Museum of Modern ArtChicago, June 13-October 1, Pérez Art Museum Miami, December 5-April 24, 2024.
• Gary Simmons: This must be the place, Hauser & WirthLondon, until July 29.
Installation view of Gary Simmons: Recovering the Memories of the Black Ark2014-15 at Prospect 3, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Courtesy of the artist and Hauser & Wirth, Los Angeles / © Gary Simmons / Photo: Scott McCrossen/FIVE65 Design
This podcast is sponsored by Bloomberg connectsthe arts and culture app.
The free app offers access to a huge range of international cultural organizations via a single download, with new guides added regularly. They include many museums and galleries where Gary Simmons has exhibited his work, including the Studio Museum in Harlem, the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, and Somerset House in London. If you download the app, you’ll find that the Somerset House guide contains a section of sound stories telling the rich history of the architecture, people and events that have defined this celebrated cultural space. There is also a section dedicated to the London Design Biennale which takes place at Somerset House until June 25th.
