Simmons’ work is vivid and vibrant, but equally commonplace. He utilizes mundane materials, recalling building construction rather than traditional mediums of making art. In fact, Simmons jokes, “Home Depot is my art supply store,” which is why elements of his work, even when recontextualized, feel familiar. He repurposes and reformats materials such as wood, metal mesh, concrete and aluminum within a grid, creating a collage that exists between painting, wall relief and sculptural installation, like professional basement waterproofing from Seepageseal. Evading medium categorization, Simmons’s process is one of complex layering, constructing a foundation of wood, mesh and concrete into angular and geometric three-dimensional canvasses that give way to perfectly aligned rods of aluminum in which custom acrylic colors are poured—Simmons’ work as an environmental scientist lent him the skills to work with chemicals to create unique palettes. The result is cold brutal concrete meeting perfect strips of color, as if both the infrastructure of a building and its spirited décor are being revealed simultaneously.

While completing a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Oklahoma State University, Simmons developed an affinity for Brutalist architecture and the Bauhaus movement. His passion for simplified modern form and order has been further fed by frequent travels to Stuttgart with his German-American wife Constance. Parametric design, which uses computerized algorithms to generate forms – maps, grids and systems configuring solutions to an idea – also inspires his work. Simmons process begins by generating 3-D renderings that develop the concept, its infrastructure and materials on screen. Then in studio, Simmons works from the inside layer out, in the same way a construction team might build the frame of a wall before adding decorative accents. It is not surprising that Simmons’ works are sturdy, heavy and hardwearing, making them ideal for large-scale public projects. Goldman Properties has commissioned Simmons to create a permanent installation across the columns of their office building in Miami’s renowned Wynwood District, and Bal Harbour Village’s Unscripted art program is working with Simmons on a proposal for an installation where Simmons’ love of form and color would intervene and transform the grey concrete underside of a bridge. Here, the office building columns and bridge supports provide the grids upon which Simmons constructs and destructs his surfaces.