Joel Simpson

A photographer since age 13, I've always felt rooted in nature, which continues to astonish me. More recently I've branched out into virtual reality, political and social documentary work. I'm a devotee of Cartier-Bresson, and Sebastião Salgado, but also Alex Webb, Bruce Davidson, Mary Ellen Mark and Jan Saudek. The truths that I like to tell about nature have a strong component of awe, either in grandeur or in delicacy. I'm always on the lookout for natural metaphors and try to infuse a certain amount of my work, especially the virtual pieces, with humor. (Photo of me by Harry Marples)

Self-taught photographer; otherwise, PhD Comp. Lit. Brown, 1976; Master of Music, Loyola (New Orleans) 1994)

SOLO SHOWS (selected)
2021: Miniscapes and Landscapes, The Other Art Fair, a Saatchi production. 20-foot booth (self-curated), Brooklyn, NY
Visionstones, Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, 26 works in side gallery (self- curated), Brooklyn, NY
Playgrounds for the Mind, ArtExpo, 8 works in a 16-foot booth (self-curated),
New York
2019: Green Exuberance, Coco-Mat Showroom and Gallery, SoHo, NYC, by invitation, self- curated
2017: Body Projections, Quimby’s Photo Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, curator: Steven Svymbersky
2016–17: Signatures of the Earth: Geological Photography, Nancy Dreyfoos Gallery, Kean University, Union, NJ.
2013: PooL Art Fair, Flatiron Hotel, New York, by subscription.
Westhampton Beach Art Fair, Long Island, juried in.
Hudson Valley Art Festival, Rhinebeck, NY, juried in
GROUP SHOWS (selected)
2024: Winter Is Coming 2024, Exhibizone/Biafarin on-line exhibition (Ice Cave Pillar)
2023: Member Salon, Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY. Curator:
Yuko Nii
Flora & Fauna, ProArts Gallery, Art150 Gallery, Jersey City, NJ. (Swamp Wolf)
Curator: Dorie Dahlberg
AIPAD, Throckmorton Gallery Stand, Metropolitan Pavilion, New York (Planetoid, 20” diameter on aluminum).
The Natural ...