Jamie Randolph Simpson

Profile

Making use of stuffed birds, Simpson's sculptures and installations often surprise the viewers who come in contact with them. Working both inside and outside of gallery spaces, her work largely deals with themes of urbanization and natural process.

Statement

"As a child, I grew up feeling like the birds on the wires and the cats under cars were always watching over me. When I awoke in the morning to birdsong, the birds were obviously singing just for me. When winter rolled around, I truly felt like my friends had disappeared. As I got older, my interest in birds continued, considering they were the last form of wildlife to be found in my suburban neighborhood. Though my best friend had an exotic African Gray parrot, I was always more interested in the crows, pigeons and sparrows that populated my town. It wasn't until I took a taxidermy class, however, that I decided to incorporate them into my artwork."

"Urban birds are minimalists. They love poles, wires, open branches, still water, wide squares and linear architecture. Mies Van Der Rohe constructed his rectangular buildings for people, never imagining that the rooflines would be dotted with birds. In contrast to this, I start with the bird and build down to the base of the sculpture."

Works