Joe Simpson

Who is Joe Simpson?

Joe Simpson is an English figurative painter based in London. His work draws influences from cinematography to create frozen scenes detached from a wider context. His work has been shown internationally, including venues such as the The National Portrait Gallery, The Royal Albert Hall, House of Commons, Air Gallery, The Hospital and Manchester Art Gallery.

In 2009 Simpson’s first major exhibition ‘Almost There’ launched. Simpson collaborated with twelve bands and solo artists to create a series of paintings that have an accompanying original soundtrack. Each painting had a song written specifically for that piece, inspired by the scene and composed to complement the mood of the image. The paintings were exhibited with headphones beside them, so that you could simultaneously listen to the music and view the image. The visual and audio components come together to create one new piece of art.

In 2011 Simpson produced a series of portraits of famous musicians, with subject including Brandon Flowers, Mark Ronson, Ezra Koenig, Maxi Jazz, Paloma Faith, Matt Berninger, Sam Beam and Jamie Cullum. The exhibition launched in a pop up in Soho and then was displayed as a solo exhibition at The Royal Albert Hall. Simpson's portrait of Maxi Jazz was shortlisted for the BP Portrait Award and exhibited at The National Portrait Gallery.