Timothy Simmons
Timothy Simmons is an African American Artist and Newark native. His early passion for art led him to pursue drawing and painting at the prestigious Arts High School. It was at Arts HS where Simmons first earned recognition as an emerging artist. In college, he pursued other endeavors and went on to earn a Master’s degree from Seton Hall University in Educational Leadership, and today serves as vice principal at a high performing charter school. Timothy Simmons received a 2022 Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
FEATURED ARTIST
During the pandemic, I had the opportunity to paint with my daughter, Teresa. It has been over a decade since the last time I put pen to paper or brush to canvas. This experience rekindled my love for art and gave my art a purpose: to create beautiful figurative images of African American families.
As an African American it is quite noticeable that most museums do not capture African American or Black life in any meaningful context. Only recently have we seen an explosion of talented African American artists rise to national attention such as Kehinde Wiley, Charley Palmer, Kara Walker and Kerry James Marshal. The legacy I want to leave behind to my children is that their lives matter in the pantheon of American history. I truly believe that producing exceptionally crafted works will help to elucidate this matter positively.
During this tumultuous time, it is even more important to use art to trigger social change. I constantly reflect on how to connect with the broader majority to state what I believe is true; individuals of BIPOC descent are loving, caring, and beautiful people. IF we all believe that, would there be this disproportionate number of African Americans incarcerated in American jails, what seems like monthly police shootings of African Americans and voter suppression laws that target one ethnic group over all others?
For the current show, Wake Up Genius Species, I have removed the negative stereotypes by providing viewers with an unbiased “conventional” depiction of African American families or standalone portraits of African American children. An observant viewer will see the truths hidden beyond the picturesque façades on display.
Timothy Simmons, New Jersey, 2022