Skip to main content

Art Basel Miami Beach 2014 - Artist to Watch - Troy Simmons

It's that time of year. Art Basel will descend on Miami next month so get ready! With events jam-packed from December 2nd to the 7th, it's hard to know which are the hottest shows attend, Luckily my new publication BOSSY is to the rescue. BOSSY invites it's readers to check out Art Basel - One to Watch- Troys Simmons.

Local artist Troy Simmons has immersed himself in his latest artwork, exploring the
evolution of urbanism and nature’s persistence to coexist. A consistent theme, which echoes
true to his intense fascination with nature and modern Brutalist Architecture.




Under the direction of JanKossen Contemporary Art Gallery in Basel, Switzerland, Simmons will
showcase his new concrete work during a solo show at CONTEXT Miami Art Fair December
2nd-7th at booth #E75. He will also have several pieces on display at SCOPE Art Show Miami Beach.




His massive, large-scale concrete canvases are a mix of acrylic paints and raw materials. At first
glance, the magnitude of his work is clearly realized. Most of his pieces weight over 100
pounds. A rough and raw relationship often described as a cataclysmic illustration of urbanism.
Simmons calls his work a “re-incarnation of the Arte Povera genre” where the inclusion of
simple natural elements, such as wood and soil takes an integral part in the creation of the art.
His intended goal is to create a playful mix of the hard and soft, expressing the ideological
perceptions of binary relationships



Rochi Llaneza, Former Executive Director of Hardcore Contemporary Art, curated his first show
in Miami in 2009. She says, “Creating an algorithm of inspired imagery, Simmons’ connection to
his ecological charged pieces is clearly reflected in his use of re-purposed materials.”
The inspiration behind his latest collection evolved after a recent trip to Germany. He spent
time with his wife’s family exploring Baden-Württemberg in the southern part of the country.
The postwar architecture is a fragmentation of Germany’s traditional heritage mixed with
simple modern construction.

Simmons currently works as a full-time artist, but his educational background is in Architecture
and Environmental Science. He studied at Sam Houston State University and worked as an
Environmental Lab Technician in Houston, Texas. He later went on to Oklahoma State
University and earned a degree in Architectural Design.
Simmons is a Resident Artist at the Bakehouse Artist Complex in Miami’s Wynwood Art District.





Sample of his current work at www.TroySimmonsStudio.com. 

If you'd like to see Troy Simmons at CONTEXT Miami Art Fair with complimentary passes. leave a comment with why you love Art Basel and I'll pick the top five answers.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Letting Go of Happily Ever After and Embracing Happy Now

Like most young girls, I was enthralled with romantic fairy tales. Who wouldn't want to have Prince Charming to show up with that glass slipper that would undoubtedly fit just right? Or maybe have him ride up on his noble steed and wake you from some mysterious illness with true love's kiss? These ideas of romantic bliss are drilled into little girl's heads from very early on. There's nothing wrong with fairy tales, they are entertaining and fun and they make great Disney movies. While I outgrew my princess obsession, I didn't quite give up on Prince Charming. Why would I? Every movie I loved assured me he existed. Of course as I grew up, my ideal prince changed too. So while I didn't expect him to show up at my door with a glass slipper, or rescue me from some isolated tower. I was pretty sure my high school  crush would serenade me with his boombox outside my window like in "Say Anything", or maybe I'd ride off on the back ...

Super Mom Guilt

In the internal (and sometimes external battle) of Stay at Home versus Work Outside the Home moms. I was pretty sure I had won the war when I became a Work at Home mom. I figured that a flexible schedule and a low minimum of time requirements would allow me to contribute financially to the household, take care of my family and leave some time to pursue my writing. I win right? Umm Nope. I wonder if everyone isn't losing. When I'm working, I feel like I should be playing with the kids (actually they are standing there telling be I should be playing with them). So I never put in the time I promise myself I'm going to put in. When I am spending time with the kids, my mind constantly wanders to that pile of dirty laundry that's been giving me the evil eye for two days or the scene I promised my writing partner I'd have finished tonight. And if I buckle down to write that scene, I'm haunted by the money I'm not making chasing a dream instead of putti...

The Mom Who Does Not Play Well With Others

" Go outside and play with the other kids! " That's something I heard too frequently growing up. They are probably words I hated hearing the most. Way more than " You're grounded" or "No TV", nothing filled me with more dread than that horrid phrase. I was a strange kid I suppose. You see, on stage at a dance recital or in a play, I was at home, I felt good. I felt safe. But eight six-year-olds in Brownie uniforms could induce cold sweats and projectile vomiting. Needless to say, my first Girl Scout meeting was my last. I don't really know why, I suppose that's a question for a psychologist someday. I do know that I just preferred to be alone. I come from a big family that was very close, with lots of birthday parties, BBQ's and family reunions. I have literally dozens of cousins. So at least twice a month all the families would find some reason to gather all together. Food, Music, Family, sounds great right? Yeah not to me. Why? Beca...