Lorna Simpson's former home and studio in Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood, designed by British architect David Adjaye in 2006, has been listed for sale at $6.5 million. The four-story, 22-foot-wide building at 208 Vanderbilt Avenue, dubbed "Pitch Black," features black polypropylene panels on the front and glass walls at the back opening onto over 800 square feet of garden space. Simpson, who created the space after failing to find a suitable existing property, used it as a combined residence and studio with her then-husband, photographer James Casebere, before relocating to a larger commercial space nearby. The property now serves as archival and storage space and is being marketed by the Corcoran Group.
The listing highlights the ongoing intersection of art-world prestige and real estate markets, as notable artists' studios frequently command high prices. Simpson's work, known for exploring gender, race, and culture through images of Black women, is currently on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The sale also underscores the gentrification and desirability of Fort Greene as an arts hub, situated near institutions like the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Pratt Institute.