Tommy Simpson agreed to be interviewed for our MLAB101 series on October 11th, 2011. He came to the interview with an ample portfolio, and a few of his published works.
Tommy Simpson is an artist, woodworker, sculptor, furniture maker, painter and poet. Internationally acknowledged for his work, he is a true original in the art community.
“Tommy Simpson’s artwork transcends craftsmanship, fine art, and whimsy. He is an “imaginist” who has worked in nearly every medium, including; woodworking, painting, printmaking, clay, woodcarving, bookmaking, jewelry, and even prose. In each work of art the artist “puzzles together” the his personal and cultural references into a signature blend of joyfulness and subtle commentary. “The ultimate goal, “Tommy says, “is to bring the artwork to life, so that the viewer can identify the human spirit behind the work, and experience its poetry.”” - Attributed from TommySimpson.net
Tommy Simpson lived in Illinois, New York, to name a few before settling in New Preston, Connecticut. An alumni from the Cranbrook Academy of Art, He has been bestowed countless awards in the Arts including a NEA Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, DC (1978), the Fellow Award from the American Craft Council in New York City, NY (1997), and more notably The Award of Distinction from The Furniture Society in Asheville, NC (2006). An accomplished Artist in every medium, but in a nutshell Tommy Simpson is an eccentric Midwesterner with an eye for the bizarre and beautiful.