Inside the Imaginist's Workshop: Tommy Simpson Artist Talk, Book Launch & Film

Step inside the imaginative world of renowned artist and furniture maker Tommy Simpson during a special Artist Talk, Book Launch, and Film Screening celebrating his exhibition Head, Heart & Hand at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts.

This free, public event brings together storytelling, film, and conversation for a rich, behind-the-scenes look at Simpson’s decades-long creative practice. The morning includes a screening of Living in a World I Created (produced by Erick Wolken), the launch of The Art and Furniture of Tommy Simpson by author Oscar Fitzgerald, and a presentation of artwork with an intimate conversation led by Simpson himself.
An “imaginist” at heart, Simpson transforms functional furniture into vibrant, three-dimensional canvases—blurring the lines between painting, sculpture, and design. Drawing from a childhood spent building with scrap wood and guided by intuition rather than formal training, his work combines mixed woods, found objects, and whimsical imagery into richly textured, story-filled pieces. His belief that different woods “speak” in their own voices has earned him national recognition, including inclusion in the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s collection.
Join us for this rare opportunity to experience the convergence of head, heart, and hand through film, words, and conversation—and to celebrate an artist whose work invites us to find wonder in the everyday and magic in the handmade.

Friday, February 6 | 10:30 AM–12:00 PM
Free admission • No registration required • All are welcome