“I first encountered a Michael Simpson painting at David Risley Gallery, back when the gallery lived in East End London (not Copenhagen, as it currently does). Part of a group show his painting stood out. A painting of a bench, both minimal and complicated, calm, yet arousing a slight sense of foreboding left me with a feeling of wanting to confess, to sit, to wait.

Following his work since that first encounter, I have been consistently impressed by his dedication to his subject: benches, ladders, pulpits… solid structures, empty of pictorial human figures, playing with scale and optical illusion. A commitment to his own investigation and interests; pushing them, testing them, following where they led regardless of what was fashionable, or popular, or, selling.

At the age of 73, Wiltshire based Simpson has a solid body of work, numerous shows, both solo and group, at home and abroad, and was recently announced First prizewinner in this year’s John Moores Painting Prize 2016. Most will feel this a recent success, but, in truth, it is a well-deserved spotlight on a hard won, patient and steady upward incline of work that will no doubt continue.”

— Claire Dorsett (2016).

Michael Simpson is the First Prizewinner of this year’s John Moores Painting Prize 2016, a prestigious UK – based painting prize. Previous winners include, Lisa Milroy, Bruce McLean, David Hockney, Rose Wylie, Sarah Pickstone and Peter Doig, to name but a few. This year’s judges were Gillian Carnegie, Richard Davey, Ansel Krut, Phoebe Unwin and Ding Yi.

Look out for the first comprehensive title of Simpson’s work Michael Simpson: Flat Surface Painting, published by Spike Island and coming into stock soon.

Photo Credit: Michael Simpson, Leper Squint (16) (2014) Oil paint on canvas, 732 x 381cm. Composite work of four panels (studio installation). Courtesy the artist and David Risley Gallery.