Mary Simpson

The work of New York based artist Mary Simpson is influenced by the mythological and psychological notion of allegory, in particular as it relates to painting as both a practice and concept. Inspired by historical symbolism and legend, she interweaves narrative with explorations of light, color and time—visually reinterpreting the “parody” of allegory. Simpson also applies this to her work with moving images, and many of her films toe the line between direct reference and painterly expression. The artist says of her chosen mediums, “in film and painting I am continually asking: what are the significant and insignificant moments in an image? What does this tension reveal culturally as our relationship to still and moving images is rapidly shifting?”

Mary Simpson’s work has been shown at Bortolami, On Stellar Rays, Rachel Uffner Gallery and Simone Subal, all New York, David Petersen, Minneapolis, Almine Rech, Brussels, Hilary Crisp, London, Seattle Art Museum, Boise Art Museum, Iowa. Film Screenings, projects and lectures include the Artists Institute, New York, The Kitchen, New York, Henry Art Gallery, Seattle, CAM2, Madrid. She teaches at Cooper Union, Columbia University and George Washington University.