Coreen Simpson facts for kids

Coreen Simpson, born on February 18, 1942, is a famous African-American photographer and jewelry designer. Her art often focuses on themes important to African-American culture and people. She is known for capturing the spirit of her subjects with great respect and dignity.

Coreen Simpson's Early Life and Learning

Coreen Simpson was born in Brooklyn, New York. She and her brother grew up there with a foster family. She finished high school at Samuel J. Tilden High School in Brooklyn. Later, she took classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology and Parsons School of Design. In 1977, she also studied photography with Frank Stewart at the Studio Museum in Harlem.

Coreen Simpson's Photography Career

Coreen Simpson's career began in 1980 when she became an editor for Unique New York magazine. She started taking photos to go along with her articles. Soon after, in the early 1980s, she became a freelance fashion photographer. She worked for newspapers like the Village Voice and the Amsterdam News.

Capturing Culture and Nightlife

During the mid-1980s, Coreen photographed many important African-American cultural and political events. She is also well-known for her pictures of Harlem nightlife. She would set up a portable studio in different places. These included clubs in downtown Manhattan, barbershops in Harlem, and braiding salons in Queens. Her photos show a wide range of people with "depth of character and dignity." People have compared her work to famous photographers like Diane Arbus and Weegee.

The Black Cameo Jewelry Collection

Besides photography, Coreen Simpson also designs jewelry. Her most famous jewelry collection is called The Black Cameo, which she created in 1990.

A New Look for Ancient Art

This collection brought back the old tradition of cameos. Cameos are small carvings, often on shells or stones, that show a raised portrait. Coreen's cameos were special because they featured portraits of black women. The portraits showed many different features of black women. Coreen's goal was for every black woman to see herself in her cameo jewelry. Famous people like Ruby Dee and Oprah Winfrey bought pieces from The Black Cameo collection.

Partnering with Avon Products

In 1993, Coreen Simpson worked with Avon Products. Together, they created the Coreen Simpson Regal Beauty Collection. This was a more affordable line of designs. It included a reasonably priced African-American cameo, making her unique designs available to more people. Coreen Simpson currently lives in New York City.

Where Coreen Simpson's Art Is Kept

Coreen Simpson's amazing photographs and designs are part of many important art collections. Her works can be found at:

• The Museum of Modern Art
• The Bronx Museum of the Arts
• The Musee de la Photographie in Belgium
• The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
• The International Center for Photography
• The Harlem State Office
• The James Van Der Zee Institute

Awards and Recognition

Coreen Simpson has received several awards for her contributions to art and culture:

• 1987: Light Work Residency
• 1994: The Mary McLeod Bethune Award from the National Council of Negro Women
• 2000: The Madame C.J. Walker Award
• 2006: The National Council of Negro Women "Legend's Award"