Podcast Summary: "Lorna Simpson Turns to Painting"
Podcast Title: All Of It
Host: Alison Stewart
Episode: Lorna Simpson Turns to Painting
Release Date: May 20, 2025
Run Time: Approximately 18 minutes
Source: WNYC
Introduction
In this episode of All Of It, hosted by Alison Stewart, WNYC delves into the artistic evolution of renowned photographer and multimedia artist Lorna Simpson as she transitions from her celebrated work in photography to the realm of painting. The conversation provides an intimate look into Simpson's creative process, her inspirations, and her latest exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art titled "Source Notes."
Lorna Simpson’s Artistic Journey
From Photography to Painting
Lorna Simpson, a New York native, is acclaimed for her meticulously staged photographic works. Alison Stewart introduces Simpson by highlighting some of her notable pieces such as "Five Day Forecast" and "Wigs," which have graced prestigious institutions like the Walker Art Center, LACMA, Rijksmuseum, and MoMA.
Alison Stewart: "[...] about 10 years ago, Lorna began using her creative mind towards something new. Well, it was old, but painting" (00:09).
Simpson recounts her initial foray into painting during her time at the School of Visual Arts (SVA), where she was required to take foundational courses in painting, photography, and sculpture.
Lorna Simpson: "I did. As a foundation art student, you had to take foundation courses in painting and photography and sculpture. And so yes, I did." (01:17)
However, she gravitated towards photography, influenced by her peers who excelled in painting.
Lorna Simpson: "Because I had so many friends who were so much better at it than I was... And I found myself spending a lot of time in the darkroom and learning photography." (01:34)
Return to Painting: A New Chapter
Motivation and Process
A decade later, Simpson felt compelled to revisit painting, experimenting with small drawings and collages before scaling up her work. This shift marked a significant departure from her structured photographic compositions.
Alison Stewart: "When you decided to return to painting, what changed for you? What changed in the way you saw the world that you thought, you know what, painting seems like the right idea?" (01:56)
Lorna Simpson: "I started incrementally, I think. I started making small drawings and collages and completely the opposite in terms of scale of what I normally do, but enjoyed in terms of my process as an artist." (02:07)
She describes painting as a "dance" between intentional creation and allowing the medium to guide the outcome.
Lorna Simpson: "It's this kind of dance in a way between just making something and letting the process take over rather than trying to control it." (02:46)
Physicality and Scale
Simpson emphasizes the physical demands of painting, especially on a large scale, which starkly contrasts with the more controlled environment of photography.
Lorna Simpson: "The physicality of it, I did not realize. And it's a very physical activity, which is quite wonderful." (03:42)
"Source Notes" Exhibition at the Met
Exhibition Overview
Simpson's latest exhibition, "Source Notes," showcases over 30 paintings created between 2014 and 2024, including a newly acquired piece by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The show features large-scale, bold works that maintain Simpson's signature thematic elements.
Alison Stewart: "It's open at the Met. It displays more than 30 works from 2014 to 2024..." (00:09)
Highlighted Works
"True Value" and "Nightmare"
Two standout pieces, "True Value" and "Nightmare," serve as thematic bookends to the exhibition. "True Value" is a portrait of a woman holding a leopard on a leash, with the faces swapped, echoing a previous photographic collage by Simpson.
Lorna Simpson: "I made a small collage, it's out of JET magazine... and switch the face of the woman with the face of the cheetah." (07:58)
"Nightmare" depicts the iconic image of Carrie from the 1970s film, reimagined to enhance its eerie quality.
Unknown Speaker: "It is the image of Carrie in one of the scenes where she's in a nightgown." (09:31)
"Did Time Elapse?"
A significant addition to the Met’s collection, "Did Time Elapse?" is a large portrait inspired by a 1929 event in Mississippi involving a meteorite and its impact on a Black man, Ed Bush.
Lorna Simpson: "The inspiration was from a text from Smithsonian clipping... where a landowner is reporting that his Negro tenant observation of a meteorite that falls at his feet." (10:48)
Simpson purchased an authentic meteorite and incorporated its unique markings into the painting, reflecting her lifelong fascination with rocks and meteorites.
Lorna Simpson: "There are different kinds of markings that look like fingerprints for certain kinds of meteor." (12:19)
Creative Processes and Influences
Rituals and Environment
Simpson shares insights into her creative rituals, notably the role of music in her studio.
Lorna Simpson: "Music. When I first started painting, my studio assistant, James Wang, and I would just play Frank Ocean over and over..." (05:17)
Completion and Reflection
She discusses how she determines when a painting is finished, often sensing when additional work might compromise the piece.
Lorna Simpson: "That sense that if I continue, I might mess it up." (05:48)
Simpson also reflects on moments of overworking a piece, leading to its eventual abandonment.
Lorna Simpson: "[...] trying to control it, trying to make it different, it usually does not come out very well." (06:16)
Personal Reflections and Tributes
"For Beryl Wright"
Simpson explains the significance of "For Beryl Wright," a tribute to a former curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago who played a pivotal role in her early career.
Lorna Simpson: "Beryl Wright was a curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago... For me, in terms of curators and particularly black women kind of in the art world..." (12:58)
The painting honors Wright’s legacy and the influence she had on supporting Black women artists.
Integration of Sculpture
"Source Notes" also includes a sculpture made from Ebony and Jet magazines, bronze, plaster, and glass, addressing the spatial challenges of the Met's gallery.
Lorna Simpson: "It was nice to have because during this period of making painting, I made collages, which are also part of the show and also made sculpture." (16:13)
Conclusion: An Invitation to Experience Art
Simpson encourages visitors to engage with her work on a personal level, allowing each individual to find their own connection within the expansive collection.
Lorna Simpson: "I think the Met is so huge and encyclopedic and so many things to look at... you never know what lingers two hours later in a conversation over coffee." (17:33)
Alison Stewart wraps up the conversation by highlighting the ongoing exhibition's availability, inviting listeners to experience Simpson's multifaceted artistry firsthand.
Key Quotes
- Lorna Simpson: "It's this kind of dance in a way between just making something and letting the process take over rather than trying to control it." (02:46)
- Lorna Simpson: "The physicality of it, I did not realize. And it's a very physical activity, which is quite wonderful." (03:42)
- Lorna Simpson: "There are different kinds of markings that look like fingerprints for certain kinds of meteor." (12:19)
- Lorna Simpson: "I think the Met is so huge and encyclopedic and so many things to look at... you never know what lingers two hours later in a conversation over coffee." (17:33)
Final Notes
Listeners are encouraged to visit the "Source Notes" exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, running through November 2nd, to explore Lorna Simpson's diverse body of work that bridges photography, painting, collage, and sculpture.