The Artistic Evolution of David Simpson
Born in Pasadena, United States, David Simpson is an American abstract painter and educator. His career is marked by three distinct artistic phases: Landscape-Based Abstractions, Relational Abstractions, and Interference Paintings. During the period from 1955 to 1963, his work focused on landscape-based abstractions, often utilizing horizontal stripes and bands inspired by the Sacramento Valley. These works were characterized by abstract glazes that referenced fog and sky. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he transitioned into relational abstractions, creating paintings consisting of flat, color-blocked rectangles, squares, and geometric shapes that interacted through spatial calculations.
Since the late 1980s, Simpson has explored interference paintings. This technique involves using interference paints containing micro-particles that reflect and refract light, creating nuances of color and optical illusions of depth. He typically applies approximately thirty coats of paint to each canvas using a hand-crafted trowel to create a modulated surface. His academic career included teaching at the American River Junior College and the University of California, Berkeley, where he served as a professor for twenty-five years before retiring in 1990.
Exhibitions and Collections
Simpson has participated in numerous exhibitions, including the seminal 1964 Post-Painterly Abstraction at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the 1963 Americans at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. His work is held in various prestigious institutions, including:
Questions & Answers
In which historical period did David Simpson work?
David Simpson worked in the Modern period. The period situates the artist's activity in history.
Where are David Simpson's artworks organized by color?
The Spectral Index page organizes David Simpson's artworks by color.
Where are David Simpson's artworks grouped by palette?
The By Palettes page groups David Simpson's artworks by their color palettes.
What other names is David Simpson known by?
David Simpson appears under the alternate names David William Simpson, ديفيد سيمبسون, デイヴィッド・シンプソン.
