Amy Simon, US/SE

Amy Simon’s extended suite of works, titled “Io” (Italian for “I”), explores the conventions of portraiture through self-representation, examining emotions, identity, age, and gender. It is, in essence, a reverse self-portrait.

The works draw on elements of Surrealism—not the conventional dreamlike kind but rather an exploration of how an unidentifiable individual is portrayed. Personal themes take center stage, with a particular focus on the sensuality of hair and its symbolic significance, referencing figures like Rapunzel, Medusa, and Samson. This persona is then placed in varied landscapes, both real and imagined, adding a layer of voyeurism.

Amy Simon works with inspiration bridging from Renaissance to modern approaches. Dürer’s 1500 self-portrait, for instance, emphasizes the artist’s identity through a striking focus on hair, a theme he carried forward in later portraits. Magritte employed techniques like obscured markers—apples, fabric, or other elements—to conceal identity, and in his 1958 painting, “L’ami intime” (“The Intimate Friend”), portrays a figure in a landscape viewed from behind.

In “Io,” the opposite of traditional perspective is at play, transforming external observations into internal reflections. Amy Simon’s practice of conceptual contemplation is expressed by an overwhelming visualization that incorporates both the thought-provoking and the artistic capabilities apparent in each work.

Amy Simon was born in New York City in 1957. Simon has exhibited extensively in Sweden, as well as in Paris, New York and Tel Aviv. Her work has been exhibited at the Venice Biennale (“Making Worlds”, 2009) and can be found in private and public collections globally, including the Modern Museum Stockholm. Simon lives and works in Stockholm, New York, and Tuscany. Amy Simon has been represented by Wetterling Gallery since 2011.

Amy Simon is currently featured in an exhibition at Restaurant Wedholms. There, one can experience several other evocative works from the series Io. The exhibition is on view until April 23, 2025. Restaurant Wedholms, Arsenalsgatan 1, Stockholm.