The Memphis Artist you need to know now.
Anthony Sims aka “Asimsart” is a 21 year old artist from Memphis, TN. The young artist is already in the Meridian Museum of Arts’ permanent collection and a member of the New York City art collective “American Pop Art” created by Steve Kaufman. Sims made his way into the Memphis art scene the summer of 2018 in public exhibitions put on by the former group known as Food Drank Culture (FDC).
Anthony did two shows with FDC and eventually got picked up by the gallery curator, Anna Roach, at Stock&Belle Gallery on Main Street. In November of 2018, the two artist Kea Woods and Anthony Sims displayed their works at Stock&Belle.
Following his first official show, Anthony tried to get selected into the Young Contemporary Art Collectors (YCAC) show but was rejected. Anthony’s work may have been dismissed by the curating team for the YCAC show but Emily Oppenheimer, from Jack Robinson’s Gallery, gave Anthony a chance and placed him in the “Memphis Ten” show that was connected to the YCAC show.
Upon arriving at the Memphis Ten exhibition, Anthony Sims got a wrist band and went to the artist table to get a pin. These pins were exclusive to the artist that made it into the Young Contemporary Art Collectors show but he did not know this until he was told he needed to put the pin back as there was only enough for the other artist. Despite having to put the pin back Sims was able to keep his wrist band, which allowed him access to the limo buses that would drive the YCAC group around Memphis. By getting on the bus Anthony had the opportunity to meet Pinkney Herbert, a legendary Memphis artist. Mr. Pinkney taught Anthony many things even after the show that night as they continued to email one another and maintain their relationship to this day.
In March of 2019, Anthony Sims would find his way back into the Memphis fine art world due to the Memphis Current Magazine. Anthony was featured in the Memphis Current Magazine Issue 3 and displayed works at Old Dominick Distillery in downtown Memphis.
It wasn’t long after the magazine release when Anthony’s life would take a huge turn. He found himself at the verge of being homeless due to several family reasons and after helping his mom he decided to drive 16 hours to New York City with his girlfriend, Hannah Dimmitt who is from Dallas, TX. In New York, Anthony met Diana Vachier and Dana Blum who would offer Sims a spot in the American Pop Art collective originally created by Steve Kaufman, one of Andy Warhol’s protegees.
After talking with Dana and running out of money Anthony headed back to Memphis, TN. Hannah drove back to Dallas and helped Anthony set up an exhibition in Dallas. While preparing to drive to Texas for the show, Anthony received a phone call from Hannah.
She was in a car wreck and her wrist were broken. While Hannah may have been okay the couples finances were both broken.With Hannah being a full time photographer with broken wrist there wasn’t much either of them could do financially to assist one another at this point in time. Eventually, Hannah’s dad Mike offered a room for the two, where they lived until December 2019 after finding a house to rent together.
At the beginning of 2020, Anthony had already worked with LA producer NugLife on two projects featuring well known rappers Issa Gold and Yung Simmie.
At the end of January Anthony displayed work in Austin, TX, and at the end of February he displayed his work in Memphis, TN. Anthony also began sending out around 100 to 200 emails a month to museums to see if any of them would accept his artwork into their permanent collection. After several months and over 500 emails the Meridian Museum of Art accepted the young artists works into their collection.
Patience and persistence has driven Anthony’s art career thus far. He has tacked a few accomplishments to his wall in the two full years he has been a painter and he is not stopping. If COVID19 quarantine goes as planned then Anthony will become one of the youngest artist to represent himself in an international art fair this October in Dallas, TX, at The Other Art Fair.
