Lorna Simpson - Identity Collage
Lorna Simpson is an African American artist living and working in NYC. She combines photography and collage in her work and is known for being an extremely versatile artist who experiments with many different styles and mediums. Her work is often associated with postcolonial and feminist critique as well as how race and gender shape human interactions. Simpson uses her unique style of art to portray black women in society. When she started creating in the ’80s, she illustrated the black female form in a new way than what was portrayed before. LeRonn Brooks, associate curator at the Getty Institute says: "Lorna Simpson’s work has not only challenged stereotypes of African Americans but created a visionary space for the contemplation of humanity itself and what it means to be American, given the complicated cultural inheritances we've been given." ¹ A question she’s often asked is “What is it like to make work that has black content?” She responds: “When I get up in the mirror, I don’t look at black content. I look at myself. To reference the self is to devoid any instances of othering from an inevitably white lens, is also to gain the freedom of omnipresence.” ²
Lorna Simpson’s collages stood out as particularly interesting to me. She often works with hair because she believes that it is profoundly intersected with identity. These collages incorporate Simpson’s photography of strong black women as well as paint and clippings that typically fill the hair of the women. I chose to create a collage that mimics the style of Lorna Simpson. I chose a photograph that I found particularly powerful. The photograph chosen is of two strong African American women by Saint Louis photographer Erica Jones. Jones says: “I focus on black women, empowering them through recurring images of beautiful black women. The more black women you see the more confident you feel in your own skin as a black woman.” ³ I found this powerful and thought it connected with the values of Lorna Simpson. I cut out the women’s hair just as Simpson did, and filled that space with images of flowers and mountains. These images represent strength, vibrancy, and growth. I also chose to use gold leaf to emphasize the power and beauty of these women. While making this piece, I felt like I was using the strength of the women photographed to inspire my collage and each image I incorporated throughout. I was extremely inspired by the work of Lorna Simpson and everything she embodies as an African American artist sharing her perspective with the world.