Background

Christian Simms studied literature and fine art at Georgetown University before earning a master’s degree at the Pratt Institute in New York. In his first few days at Georgetown he was surprised when Georgetown’s art chair, Dr. Cliff Chieffo, told him he had seen Simms’ high school portfolio and believed he might be the “next Picasso.” Rather than striving for such lofty ambitions, though, Simms chose a much more modest path. He set out to pursue a career in graphic design and creative direction. Over the next four decades, Simms built a distinguished career — heading up, or contributing to, major design programs like the branding for Citigroup, Pratt, and the Negro Leagues. He also taught at the Fashion Institute of Technology and Pratt, where he became an Associate Professor, and worked alongside his friend and partner, DK Holland, on the development of ethical standards for the design industry. In 2024, Simms returned to art with a clarity that surprised even him. Drawing on his background in design, he began enlarging simple pixels into bold, graphic compositions. Today, he works with quiet determination, driven less by ambition than by a desire to create the work he once set aside.