DANNY SIMMONS
Danny Simmons Jr., an artist living and working in Philadelphia, PA, has described his artistic style as “Neo-African abstract expressionist.” A term he coined to describe the spiritual foundations of African sculptures and art found in his work. Simmons views his art as a way to establish a spiritual connection between himself and Africa, capturing the power of this connection with vividly colored compositions, lines, and markings on each canvas.
We collaborated with Simmons on Deeper Desire in 2018. The multi-media print is a digitally pigmented serigraph comprised of four unique images that create a unified work when joined. The series was made in a small production run intended for individual collectors.
In addition to his artistic practice, Simmons is a published author, poet, and dedicated art philanthropist. In 1995, he co-founded the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation alongside his brothers, hip hop mogul Russell Simmons and rapper Joseph “Rev. Run” Simmons. The foundation offers underserved youth access to the arts and education and supports emerging artists through its Rush Arts Gallery in Philadelphia.
Simmons holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from New York University, a Master’s in Public Finance from Long Island University, and an honorary doctorate from Long Island University. His art has been exhibited in prominent institutions such as The Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., the Schomburg Center for Black Culture in New York, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, NY. An edition of this print, Deeper Desire, can also be found in the collection of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA).