Diane Simpson

Diane Simpson
Curated by Dan Byers with Jeffrey De Blois
ICA Boston, Boston, US


December 16, 2015 - March 27, 2016
installation view, Diane Simpson, ICA Boston, Boston

Chicago-based artist Diane Simpson’s (b. 1935, Joliet, Illinois) elegantly constructed sculptures evolve from a diverse range of materials, clothing, and architectural sources. While elements of her creations appear to effortlessly hang and fold, they are in fact the result of a rigorous approach to construction techniques, reveling in passages of pattern, joinery, and skewed angles that are by turns humorous and psychologically-charged. This concise survey of over 30 years of work will include a suite of preparatory drawings and sculptural work made from the early 1980s to the present in materials ranging from corrugated cardboard and medium-density fiberboard to aluminum, wool, polyester, poplar, faux fur, fleece, mahogany, brass, copper, and steel. This will be the artist’s first solo museum exhibition on the East Coast.

Ribbed Kimono, 1980
corrugated archival board, colored pencil, and crayon
84 x 60 x 44 in
213.5 x 152.5 x 112 cm
Amish Bonnet, 1992
brass tube, waxed linen thread, fabric
66 x 21.5 x 18 in
167.5 x 54.5 x 45.5 cm
Amish Bonnet, 1992 (detail)
brass tube, waxed linen thread, fabric
66 x 21.5 x 18 in
167.5 x 54.5 x 45.5 cm
installation view, Diane Simpson, ICA Boston, Boston
Samurai 6, 1982
MDF, enamel
59.5 x 61 x 31 in
151 x 155 x 78.5 cm
installation view, Diane Simpson, ICA Boston, Boston
Bib (white), 2006
cotton mesh, painted aluminum,found trunk hanger, found embroidery hoop
30 x 23 x 8 in
76 x 58.5 x 20.5 cm
installation view, Diane Simpson, ICA Boston, Boston
Court Lady, 1984
oil stain, MDF, linen, nylon, and plastic
93.5 x 38.5 x 20 in
237.5 x 96.5 x 51 cm
Formal Wear, 1998
spunbound polyester, poplar, cotton webbing
47 x 50 x 7 in
119.5 x 127 x 18 cm
Formal Wear, 1998
spunbound polyester, poplar, cotton webbing
47 x 50 x 7 in
119.5 x 127 x 18 cm
installation view, Diane Simpson, ICA Boston, Boston
Muff, 1998
faux fur, fleece, and mahogany
49 x 28 x 13 in
124.5 x 71 x 33 cm
Vest (scalloped), 2010
copper, linoleum, steel base, wood, and enamel
56 x 22 x 14 in
142 x 56 x 35.5 cm
Apron V, 2002
enamel on aluminum and linen with vinyl mesh
69 x 20 x 11.5 in
175 x 51 x 29 cm
installation view, Diane Simpson, ICA Boston, Boston
Vee, 1999
enamel, steel, wool, birch, and pine
12 x 30 x 11 in
30.5 x 76 x 28 cm