Artist Lorna Simpson joins the 'A Brush With...' podcast to discuss the vast array of cultural influences that have shaped her conceptual practice. From her early photo-text works to her recent large-scale paintings, Simpson details how she subverts conventional framing of identity and navigates the boundaries between reality, fiction, and historical archives. She highlights the specific impact of figures such as David Hammons, Francisco de Zurbarán, and filmmaker Chantal Akerman on her evolving visual language.
This interview provides critical insight into the intellectual rigor of one of America’s most influential contemporary artists as she balances social engagement with a refusal to be easily categorized. By exploring her connections to literature, cinema, and fellow artists, the discussion underscores Simpson’s role in redefining the documentary power of the camera and the complexity of representation in the modern art canon.