Process Room, 08.07.08- 20.07.08

Highly attuned to his environment, no matter where he finds himself, Arthur Simms gets inspiration from diverse sources, both high and low. Objects of transport, such as skateboards and bicycles, figure highly in his work.  Born in St. Andrew, Jamaica, Simms immigrated to Brooklyn in 1969. During the 1980s, Simms was struck by the sight of New York Citys homeless pushing grocery carts filled with their lifes belongings. It reminded him of the carts used to carry wares and produce to the market in his native country. "In my art, I try to assimilate the essence of my Jamaican heritage. There are so many things that go into the work, but each part has a special significance, in the same way as if you had to carry all your belongings with you all the time." 

Simms sculptures have been shown at the Venice Biennial and around the U.S including venues such as the Queens Museum; the Neuberger Museum and Brooklyn’s Prospect Park.  He has also been featured at the Brooklyn Museum of Art and PS1 MOMA. Simms is a Guggenheim Fellow; a Rome Prize Fellow, he has also won funding from many foundations including, the Joan Mitchell Foundation, the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation, Creative Capital Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation. 

For a printable version of this document please download the following documentArthur Simms: Dublin 2008 (Word doc 2000 – 71.5KB)

Click here to return to Previous Participants

Click here to browse ARP Projects