Photographer Coreen Simpson Celebrates Decades of Capturing Iconic Figures in New Monograph
A new photo book, Coreen Simpson: A Monograph, released today by Aperture’s Vision & Justice project, celebrates the decades-long career of photographer Coreen Simpson, known for her intimate portraits of influential artists and everyday people.
Simpson began her photography journey in the 1970s while working as an assistant curator at the Studio Museum in Harlem, where she unofficially photographed visiting artists, including a striking 1978 portrait of Toni Morrison. She famously convinced Morrison to keep a cigarette in her hand for the shot, believing it captured the author’s “glamour” and power. “But it looks so glamorous with the cigarette. This is you. Allow me to take the picture,” Simpson recalled saying to Morrison. She honed her skills with guidance from street photographer Walter Johnson, quickly becoming “unstoppable” once she held a camera.
Beyond portraiture, Simpson’s work extends to experimental pieces challenging perceptions of women’s bodies, and a successful jewelry business, the Black Cameo, which she launched after selling pieces at a local market. She attributes her drive to a childhood spent in foster care, fostering a “survival instinct” essential to her image-making. “I like photography ‘cause it’s like you have to survive. You have to get the photograph, damn it,” Simpson explained. Her entrepreneurial spirit allowed her to supplement her income and continue pursuing her passion for photography. Simpson’s work has also documented New York City nightlife and captured moments with figures like James Baldwin, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Muhammad Ali – the latter through a serendipitous encounter at Yankee Stadium in 1976 where she was granted exclusive access to photograph Ali entering the ring, thanks to an NBC work badge.
Simpson’s career exemplifies a commitment to self-creation and seizing opportunities, a path she encourages young photographers to follow. “Don’t wait for a magazine to give you an assignment,” she advises. Her work provides a vital visual record of a pivotal era in American art and culture, and her monograph is expected to inspire a new generation of image-makers. Aperture plans a series of events and exhibitions to accompany the book’s release.
