photo: Craig Garrett
Mary Simpson is a writer and artist from Alaska, currently living in Brooklyn, New York. Her writing has appeared in The Brooklyn Rail, Bomb, Parkett, Broadcast, JRP Editions, The Happy Hypocrite, Hoosac Institute Journal, and other publications. She earned an MFA in visual arts from Columbia University, attended the Whitney Museum Independent Study Program and the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. She won the Rema Hort Mann prize and has had numerous solo exhibitions in New York, Chicago, and Minneapolis. Her work has been included in group exhibitions at the Seattle Art Museum and the Boise Art Museum. She has shown internationally in galleries in Brussels, London, and Beijing. Her film screenings and lectures include the Artists Institute, The Kitchen, Goethe Institute, Henry Art Gallery, and CAM2 Madrid. She works as curator for the estate of Jimmy DeSana.
Born in Anchorage, Alaska
Education
Whitney Independent Study Program, New York, NY 2009-2010
MFA, Visual Arts, Columbia University, New York, NY 2007-2009
BA, Creative Writing, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Washington. 1996-2000
Solo & 2-Person Exhibitions
2023 Preparing the Girl, Kent Place School, Summit, New Jersey
2022 between friends, with Nyeema Morgan, David Petersen, Minneapolis
2021 No Island is an Island, Haynes Court, Chicago
2018 Libido of the Forest, Situations, New York
2016 The Wild Word, David Petersen, Minneapolis
2015 Off Hours, Rachel Uffner Gallery, New York
2015 Boys or Women, David Petersen, Minneapolis
2011 Tom Burr (Collaboration), Almine Rech, Brussels
2009 Young Americans, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington
2006 Wait Until Spring, Brother, 4Culture Gallery, Seattle, Washington
Group Exhibitions
2021 Nature as Measure, Chambers Fine Art, New York
2021 44 Signs of the Times, Mana Contemporary, New Jersey
2019 Nature as Measure, Chambers Fine Art, Beijing
2017 Human Human, Ralph Arnold Gallery, Loyola University, Chicago
2016 Barbarian in the Garden, Pitt Street, New York
2014 Glass Puzzle, Simone Subal, New York
2014 No Drink No Talk Just Beautiful, On Stellar Rays, New York
2013 Hollow Center, Smack Mellon, New York
2012 Now I am quietly waiting for the catastrophe of my personality to seem beautiful again, and interesting, and modern, Bortolami Gallery, New York
2012 Karina Bisch, Yelena Popova, Mary Simpson, Hilary Crisp, London
2011 Tailgates and Substitutes, Thierry Goldberg, New York
2011 Offset Summary, Rachel Uffner, New York
2010 Half a Self, a Cave Dweller, Saint Cecillia Parish, New York
2010 Columbia University Faculty, Neiman Gallery, Columbia University, New York
2010 Relax, Socrates Sculpture Park, New York
2010 Whitney Independent Study Program, Art in General, New York
2009 How to Draw a Cathedral, Max Protetch, New York
2008 Bivouac, Neiman Gallery, Columbia University, New York
2008 Floating Architectures and Constant Centers: Some Projections, Martin Art Gallery, Muhlenberg College, Pennsylvania
2008 Thermostat, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington
2007 Thermostat: Video and the Pacific Northwest, Art Video Lounge, Art Basel Miami, Florida
2007 Nocturnes, Boise Art Museum, Boise, Idaho
2007 Billy in the Lowground, Punch Gallery, Seattle, Washington
2006 The Wired Forest, Kirkland Arts Center, Kirkland, Washington
2006 Works on Paper, Davidson Contemporary, Seattle, Washington
2006 Pause, Tacoma Contemporary, Tacoma, Washington
2005 Nocturnes, SOIL Gallery, Seattle, Washington
2005 Unearthing, SOIL Gallery, Seattle, Washington
2005 Release & Capture, Kirkland Arts Center, Kirkland, Washington
2005 Hello Central, Give Me Heaven, Hello Central, Give Me No Man’s Land, Tacoma Contemporary, Tacoma, Washington
Awards
2014 Rema Hort Mann Award, New York
2012 Smithsonian Contemporary Artist Award Finalist, Washington, DC
2008 Herbert S. Germaise Endowed Fellowship Award, Columbia University, New York
2007 Columbia University Teaching Assistance Fellowship, New York
2007 LeRoy Neiman Center Print Fellowship, Columbia University, New York
2007 Jacob K. Javits Commended Scholar, Javits Foundation, New York
2007 4Culture Special Projects Grant, Seattle, Washington
2007 The Gay Clifford Award, The Slade School of Fine Art, London
2006 Seattle Art Museum / PONCHO Special Recognition Award, Seattle
2006 Betty Bowen Memorial Award Finalist, Seattle, Washington
2006 Northwest Film Forum 16mm Equipment Access Grant, Seattle, Washington
2005 4Culture Special Projects Grant, Seattle, Washington
Residencies
2025 Interlude Residency, Hudson, NY
2014 Creative Lab, Center on Contemporary Art, Glasgow, Scotland
2011 Kamov Residency / Art in General Eastern European Exchange, Zagreb and Rijeka, Croatia
2007 Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan, Maine
2004 Centrum Residency, Fort Warden State Park, Port Townsend, Washington
Bibliography: Texts Written by Mary Simpson
“Intensive Care,” The Brooklyn Rail, August 14, 2024
“Hunger,” Broadcast, Online, January 2024
“I Saw It and Didn’t See It,” Carroll Dunham: Green Period, JRP Editions, edited by Dan Nadel, 2023
“Death is for the Living,” Hoosac Institute Journal, Issue 4, Online, February 2020
“Mary Simpson and Joanne Greenbaum: A Correspondance,” Turps Banana, Issue 17, 2016
“Car Talk: Artists Mary Simpson & Carroll Dunham Hit the Road,” Bomb, Online, 2016
“Boys or Women,” Bomb, Online, 2015
“Soft Footage,” The Happy Hypocrite, Issue 7, Heat Island, Book Works, edited by Mason Leaver-Yap, 2014
“Charline von Heyl: Now or Else,” Parkett, Issue 89, 2011
Bibliography: Texts Written on Mary Simpson
Christina Schmid, “between friends: On Mourning, Mirrors, and Togetherness in Extraordinary Times,“ MN Artists Walker Art Center, December 2022
Ian Pedigo, “Mary Simpson: No Island is an Island,” ArtPyre, Online, October 2021
Nancy Shaver, “17 Artists (+2) to Watch in 2017,” New American Paintings, Online, December 2016
“9 Events to Attend in New York City This Week,” Artnews, Online, 2016
“Mary Simpson,” Art in America, Exhibitions: The Lookout, December 2015
Jerry Saltz, “Go See: Mary Simpson, Off Hours,” New York Magazine, November 18, 2015
Anya Ventura, “Mary Simpson,” Artforum, Critics Picks: Minneapolis, 2015
“Glass Puzzle,’ Goings on about town: Art,” The New Yorker, July 21, 2014
Karen Rosenberg, “Glass Puzzle,” Art in Review, The New York Times, July 3, 2014
Mason Leaver-Yap, “Mary Simpson: Leap/Linger,” Afterall Online, November 2011
Mason Leaver-Yap, “Mary Simpson: MAP Commission,” MAP Magazine, UK, June 2011
Claire Barliant, “Offset Summary,” The New Yorker, February 7, 2011
David Everitt Howe, “Studio Visit,” Flash Art Online, January 28, 2011
Jen Graves, “Young Americans,” The Stranger, May 5 – May 11, 2009
Regina Hackett, “Video Artists Take the Temperature of our Region at Seattle Art Museum,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, August 21, 2008
Michael Darling, Art Basel Miami Beach, Exhibition Catalogue, December 2007
Nocturnes, Exhibition Catalogue, August 2007
Regina Hackett, “The Many Friends of Mary Simpson,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, June 2, 2007
Regina Hackett, “Visual Arts: Best of 2006,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 29, 2006
Jen Graves, “In Arts News: Sovereign and Tantalizing,” The Stranger, Nov 23 – Nov 29, 2006
Suzanne Beale, “Billy in the Lowground,” The Seattle Weekly, Nov 22, 2006
Regina Hackett, “Compelling Installations,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, November 17, 2006
Regina Hackett, “Visions of Nature in the Age of Technology,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, October 27, 2006
Nate Lippens, “Private Screening,” Seattle Metropolitan Magazine, September 2006
Nate Lippens, “Works on Paper,” Visual Codec, September 2006
Regina Hackett, “Davidson Contemporary is coming up fast on the contemporary scene,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, August 18, 2006
Regina Hackett, “In the Galleries: August,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, August 3, 2006
Jen Graves, “In Arts News: Wait Until Spring, Brother,” The Stranger, Apr 27 – May 3, 2006
Jen Graves, “Stranger Suggests: Projections,” The Stranger, Feb 2 – Feb 8, 2006
Nate Lippens, “Visual Art: Ones to Watch,” The Stranger, Oct 8 – Oct 14, 2005
Andrew Engelson, “Visual Arts Pick: Nocturnes,” Seattle Weekly, Sep 21 – 27, 2005
Nate Lippens, “Just the Motion: The Handmade Animation of 'Nocturnes,’” The Stranger, Sep 8 – Sep 14, 2005
Nocturnes, Exhibition Catalogue, SOIL Art Gallery, September 2005
Matthew Kangas, “Young talent leaves paper trail,” The Seattle Times, April 22, 2005
Nate Lippens, “On Exhibit – Group Shows: Released, Wanted, and Glimpsed,” The Stranger, April 7 – April 13, 2005
Regina Hackett, “NW artists deliver a superb flight of fancy in 'Release & Capture,’” Seattle Post- Intelligencer, March 25, 2005
Nate Lippens: “Stranger Suggests,” The Stranger, Mar 10 – Mar 16, 2005
Andrew Engelson, “Visual Arts Pick, Release & Capture,” Seattle Weekly, March 16 – 22, 2005
Jen Graves, “The Tollbooth beckons for thee,” Tacoma News Tribune, March 6, 2005
Nate Lippens, “Hello Central: A collaborative work on the nature of propaganda,” The Stranger, Feb 17 – Feb 23, 2005
Film Screenings and Lectures
2016 Næturvarp [Night Transmissions]: Electronic Intimacy, Icelandic National Television
2015 Mary Simpson: Paintings Take Pose Now, Goethe Institute, New York
2015 Sarah Charlesworth: Doubleworld, Discussion on the Allegorical, The New Museum, New York
2012 Susan Howe, Emily Dickinson and Rosemarie Trockel, hosted by Mary Simpson, The Artists Institute, New York
2011 Brick and Mortar Video Festival, Greenfield, Massachusetts
2010 Supposition of the Now, CAM2 Madrid, Spain
2010 Whitney Independent Study Program, The Kitchen, New York
2007 Endless Summer, Northwest Film Forum, Seattle
2007 Animations, Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan, Maine
2006 Betty Bowen Memorial Award Artist Presentation, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Seattle
2006 Billy in the Lowground, Northwest Film Forum, Seattle, Washington
2006 Projections, Henry Art Gallery, Seattle, Washington
Teaching
2009—2016 Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Art, Columbia University, New York
2012—2014 Adjunct Instructor, School of Art, Cooper Union, New York
2014 Adjunct Instructor, MFA Program, School of Art, George Washington University, Washington, DC
2013—2014 Teaching Artist in Residence, Artists Space, New York
2007—2009 Graduate Teaching Fellowship, School of Art, Columbia University, New York
Courses:
• Studio Visit/Critiques, MFA program, Columbia University
• Studio Visit/Critiques, MFA program, George Washington University
• Advanced Film/Video, School of Art, Cooper Union
• Introduction to Super-8 and 16mm Film, School of Art, Cooper Union
• Video 1: Introduction to the Moving Image, School of Art, Cooper Union
• Eye & Idea: Critical Theory and Artistic Practice, Columbia University
• Senior Thesis, Columbia University
• Imprinted Image: Basic and Advanced Intaglio Printmaking, Columbia University
• Graphic Image: Basic and Advanced Silkscreen Printmaking, Columbia University
Born in Anchorage, Alaska
Education
Whitney Independent Study Program, New York, NY 2009-2010
MFA, Visual Arts, Columbia University, New York, NY 2007-2009
BA, Creative Writing, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Washington. 1996-2000
Solo & 2-Person Exhibitions
2023 Preparing the Girl, Kent Place School, Summit, New Jersey
2022 between friends, with Nyeema Morgan, David Petersen, Minneapolis
2021 No Island is an Island, Haynes Court, Chicago
2018 Libido of the Forest, Situations, New York
2016 The Wild Word, David Petersen, Minneapolis
2015 Off Hours, Rachel Uffner Gallery, New York
2015 Boys or Women, David Petersen, Minneapolis
2011 Tom Burr (Collaboration), Almine Rech, Brussels
2009 Young Americans, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington
2006 Wait Until Spring, Brother, 4Culture Gallery, Seattle, Washington
Group Exhibitions
2021 Nature as Measure, Chambers Fine Art, New York
2021 44 Signs of the Times, Mana Contemporary, New Jersey
2019 Nature as Measure, Chambers Fine Art, Beijing
2017 Human Human, Ralph Arnold Gallery, Loyola University, Chicago
2016 Barbarian in the Garden, Pitt Street, New York
2014 Glass Puzzle, Simone Subal, New York
2014 No Drink No Talk Just Beautiful, On Stellar Rays, New York
2013 Hollow Center, Smack Mellon, New York
2012 Now I am quietly waiting for the catastrophe of my personality to seem beautiful again, and interesting, and modern, Bortolami Gallery, New York
2012 Karina Bisch, Yelena Popova, Mary Simpson, Hilary Crisp, London
2011 Tailgates and Substitutes, Thierry Goldberg, New York
2011 Offset Summary, Rachel Uffner, New York
2010 Half a Self, a Cave Dweller, Saint Cecillia Parish, New York
2010 Columbia University Faculty, Neiman Gallery, Columbia University, New York
2010 Relax, Socrates Sculpture Park, New York
2010 Whitney Independent Study Program, Art in General, New York
2009 How to Draw a Cathedral, Max Protetch, New York
2008 Bivouac, Neiman Gallery, Columbia University, New York
2008 Floating Architectures and Constant Centers: Some Projections, Martin Art Gallery, Muhlenberg College, Pennsylvania
2008 Thermostat, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington
2007 Thermostat: Video and the Pacific Northwest, Art Video Lounge, Art Basel Miami, Florida
2007 Nocturnes, Boise Art Museum, Boise, Idaho
2007 Billy in the Lowground, Punch Gallery, Seattle, Washington
2006 The Wired Forest, Kirkland Arts Center, Kirkland, Washington
2006 Works on Paper, Davidson Contemporary, Seattle, Washington
2006 Pause, Tacoma Contemporary, Tacoma, Washington
2005 Nocturnes, SOIL Gallery, Seattle, Washington
2005 Unearthing, SOIL Gallery, Seattle, Washington
2005 Release & Capture, Kirkland Arts Center, Kirkland, Washington
2005 Hello Central, Give Me Heaven, Hello Central, Give Me No Man’s Land, Tacoma Contemporary, Tacoma, Washington
Awards
2014 Rema Hort Mann Award, New York
2012 Smithsonian Contemporary Artist Award Finalist, Washington, DC
2008 Herbert S. Germaise Endowed Fellowship Award, Columbia University, New York
2007 Columbia University Teaching Assistance Fellowship, New York
2007 LeRoy Neiman Center Print Fellowship, Columbia University, New York
2007 Jacob K. Javits Commended Scholar, Javits Foundation, New York
2007 4Culture Special Projects Grant, Seattle, Washington
2007 The Gay Clifford Award, The Slade School of Fine Art, London
2006 Seattle Art Museum / PONCHO Special Recognition Award, Seattle
2006 Betty Bowen Memorial Award Finalist, Seattle, Washington
2006 Northwest Film Forum 16mm Equipment Access Grant, Seattle, Washington
2005 4Culture Special Projects Grant, Seattle, Washington
Residencies
2025 Interlude Residency, Hudson, NY
2014 Creative Lab, Center on Contemporary Art, Glasgow, Scotland
2011 Kamov Residency / Art in General Eastern European Exchange, Zagreb and Rijeka, Croatia
2007 Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan, Maine
2004 Centrum Residency, Fort Warden State Park, Port Townsend, Washington
Bibliography: Texts Written by Mary Simpson
“Intensive Care,” The Brooklyn Rail, August 14, 2024
“Hunger,” Broadcast, Online, January 2024
“I Saw It and Didn’t See It,” Carroll Dunham: Green Period, JRP Editions, edited by Dan Nadel, 2023
“Death is for the Living,” Hoosac Institute Journal, Issue 4, Online, February 2020
“Mary Simpson and Joanne Greenbaum: A Correspondance,” Turps Banana, Issue 17, 2016
“Car Talk: Artists Mary Simpson & Carroll Dunham Hit the Road,” Bomb, Online, 2016
“Boys or Women,” Bomb, Online, 2015
“Soft Footage,” The Happy Hypocrite, Issue 7, Heat Island, Book Works, edited by Mason Leaver-Yap, 2014
“Charline von Heyl: Now or Else,” Parkett, Issue 89, 2011
Bibliography: Texts Written on Mary Simpson
Christina Schmid, “between friends: On Mourning, Mirrors, and Togetherness in Extraordinary Times,“ MN Artists Walker Art Center, December 2022
Ian Pedigo, “Mary Simpson: No Island is an Island,” ArtPyre, Online, October 2021
Nancy Shaver, “17 Artists (+2) to Watch in 2017,” New American Paintings, Online, December 2016
“9 Events to Attend in New York City This Week,” Artnews, Online, 2016
“Mary Simpson,” Art in America, Exhibitions: The Lookout, December 2015
Jerry Saltz, “Go See: Mary Simpson, Off Hours,” New York Magazine, November 18, 2015
Anya Ventura, “Mary Simpson,” Artforum, Critics Picks: Minneapolis, 2015
“Glass Puzzle,’ Goings on about town: Art,” The New Yorker, July 21, 2014
Karen Rosenberg, “Glass Puzzle,” Art in Review, The New York Times, July 3, 2014
Mason Leaver-Yap, “Mary Simpson: Leap/Linger,” Afterall Online, November 2011
Mason Leaver-Yap, “Mary Simpson: MAP Commission,” MAP Magazine, UK, June 2011
Claire Barliant, “Offset Summary,” The New Yorker, February 7, 2011
David Everitt Howe, “Studio Visit,” Flash Art Online, January 28, 2011
Jen Graves, “Young Americans,” The Stranger, May 5 – May 11, 2009
Regina Hackett, “Video Artists Take the Temperature of our Region at Seattle Art Museum,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, August 21, 2008
Michael Darling, Art Basel Miami Beach, Exhibition Catalogue, December 2007
Nocturnes, Exhibition Catalogue, August 2007
Regina Hackett, “The Many Friends of Mary Simpson,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, June 2, 2007
Regina Hackett, “Visual Arts: Best of 2006,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 29, 2006
Jen Graves, “In Arts News: Sovereign and Tantalizing,” The Stranger, Nov 23 – Nov 29, 2006
Suzanne Beale, “Billy in the Lowground,” The Seattle Weekly, Nov 22, 2006
Regina Hackett, “Compelling Installations,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, November 17, 2006
Regina Hackett, “Visions of Nature in the Age of Technology,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, October 27, 2006
Nate Lippens, “Private Screening,” Seattle Metropolitan Magazine, September 2006
Nate Lippens, “Works on Paper,” Visual Codec, September 2006
Regina Hackett, “Davidson Contemporary is coming up fast on the contemporary scene,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, August 18, 2006
Regina Hackett, “In the Galleries: August,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, August 3, 2006
Jen Graves, “In Arts News: Wait Until Spring, Brother,” The Stranger, Apr 27 – May 3, 2006
Jen Graves, “Stranger Suggests: Projections,” The Stranger, Feb 2 – Feb 8, 2006
Nate Lippens, “Visual Art: Ones to Watch,” The Stranger, Oct 8 – Oct 14, 2005
Andrew Engelson, “Visual Arts Pick: Nocturnes,” Seattle Weekly, Sep 21 – 27, 2005
Nate Lippens, “Just the Motion: The Handmade Animation of 'Nocturnes,’” The Stranger, Sep 8 – Sep 14, 2005
Nocturnes, Exhibition Catalogue, SOIL Art Gallery, September 2005
Matthew Kangas, “Young talent leaves paper trail,” The Seattle Times, April 22, 2005
Nate Lippens, “On Exhibit – Group Shows: Released, Wanted, and Glimpsed,” The Stranger, April 7 – April 13, 2005
Regina Hackett, “NW artists deliver a superb flight of fancy in 'Release & Capture,’” Seattle Post- Intelligencer, March 25, 2005
Nate Lippens: “Stranger Suggests,” The Stranger, Mar 10 – Mar 16, 2005
Andrew Engelson, “Visual Arts Pick, Release & Capture,” Seattle Weekly, March 16 – 22, 2005
Jen Graves, “The Tollbooth beckons for thee,” Tacoma News Tribune, March 6, 2005
Nate Lippens, “Hello Central: A collaborative work on the nature of propaganda,” The Stranger, Feb 17 – Feb 23, 2005
Film Screenings and Lectures
2016 Næturvarp [Night Transmissions]: Electronic Intimacy, Icelandic National Television
2015 Mary Simpson: Paintings Take Pose Now, Goethe Institute, New York
2015 Sarah Charlesworth: Doubleworld, Discussion on the Allegorical, The New Museum, New York
2012 Susan Howe, Emily Dickinson and Rosemarie Trockel, hosted by Mary Simpson, The Artists Institute, New York
2011 Brick and Mortar Video Festival, Greenfield, Massachusetts
2010 Supposition of the Now, CAM2 Madrid, Spain
2010 Whitney Independent Study Program, The Kitchen, New York
2007 Endless Summer, Northwest Film Forum, Seattle
2007 Animations, Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan, Maine
2006 Betty Bowen Memorial Award Artist Presentation, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Seattle
2006 Billy in the Lowground, Northwest Film Forum, Seattle, Washington
2006 Projections, Henry Art Gallery, Seattle, Washington
Teaching
2009—2016 Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Art, Columbia University, New York
2012—2014 Adjunct Instructor, School of Art, Cooper Union, New York
2014 Adjunct Instructor, MFA Program, School of Art, George Washington University, Washington, DC
2013—2014 Teaching Artist in Residence, Artists Space, New York
2007—2009 Graduate Teaching Fellowship, School of Art, Columbia University, New York
Courses:
• Studio Visit/Critiques, MFA program, Columbia University
• Studio Visit/Critiques, MFA program, George Washington University
• Advanced Film/Video, School of Art, Cooper Union
• Introduction to Super-8 and 16mm Film, School of Art, Cooper Union
• Video 1: Introduction to the Moving Image, School of Art, Cooper Union
• Eye & Idea: Critical Theory and Artistic Practice, Columbia University
• Senior Thesis, Columbia University
• Imprinted Image: Basic and Advanced Intaglio Printmaking, Columbia University
• Graphic Image: Basic and Advanced Silkscreen Printmaking, Columbia University