About

Billy Simms is an interdisciplinary artist, curator, and educator.  He has an MFA in Studio Art from Miami University, an MS in Special Education from The Johns Hopkins University, and a BA in Theatrical Scenic and Lighting Design from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.  He lives in Hamilton, OH with his wife and three cats.

Contact

Contacted via email at simmsws@miamioh.edu. Put “Attention Billy Simms Art” in the RE line.

Follow on  Instagram @billysimmsartist and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BillySimmsArt/

Artist Statement

My artwork focuses on the intersection of visual art, literature, theatre, and storytelling. My work consists of larger projects, or bodies of work, comprising smaller individual pieces that can stand alone or, when viewed together, combine to create a collective whole. In the past, my projects have been in a variety of media including printmaking, written text, sculpture, drawing, painting, crafts, photography, and found objects. I decide which media to use based on the idea behind a piece, the story the piece tells, and the overarching narrative of the project. My work employs the theatrical convention of “the willing suspension of disbelief.”  I use this theatrical strategy to encourage my audience to suspend critical faculties, to believe the unbelievable, to forfeit realism and logic, and to engage themselves in the world that I am creating. This allows me to create an immersive world for the viewer to experience.  

CV

Education

Master of  Fine Arts, two dimensional art, Miami University, 2017.

Master of Science, special education, The Johns Hopkins University, 1999.

Bachelor of Arts, theatrical design, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 1988.

Selected Teaching Experience

Miami University, Adjunct Instructor, Oxford, OH August 2018 – present

Miami University Middletown, Adjunct Instructor, Middletown, OH August 2018 – December 2018

The Fitton Center for the Arts, Studio Art Instructor, Hamilton, OH August 2017- present

Miami University, Graduate Assistant, Oxford, OH August 2014 – May 2017

Talawanda High School, Intervention Specialist, Oxford, OH August 2004 – May 2014

Alachua County Public Schools, Exceptional Student Educator, Gainesville, FL August 1999- June 2004

Selected Courses Taught

Miami University

ART 102: Color Theory

ART 104: Creative Problem Solving

ART 105: Technical Drawing

ART 125: Beginning Printmaking 

ART149 Beginning Photography

ART 155: Beginning Drawing 

ART 241: Printmaking I

ART 599: Drypoint Printmaking

Community Teaching

Creating Comics

Creating Comics: An Online Class

Creating Graphic Novels Workshop

Upcycle Camp

Printmaking for Pre-Teen Camp

Printmaking for Teen Camp

Printmaking for Adults

Printmaking for The Boys and Girls Club of Hamilton

SOS Art: Art and Compassion

Screen Printing with Vinyl Workshop

Graphic Novel Camp

Lego Printmaking Workshop

Your Art Biz Camp

Rubberband Printmaking Workshop

Paper Bag Puppet Making Workshop

Creative Technology

Baseball Hat Making (in person)

Portrait Drawing

Introduction to Acting

Selected Recent Exhibitions

October 2024      “Monsters 2.” Group Exhibition. Curator. Miami University Art Building Lobby\ Gallery, Oxford, OH

October 2024      “We>Me.” Part of the 2024 FotoFocus Biennial. Group Exhibition. Fitton Center, Hamilton, OH

September 2024  “Midwest America.” Part of the 2024 FotoFocus Biennial. Group Exhibition. Dayton Society of the Arts, Dayton, OH

August 2024          “Stories of the Land.”  Part of the 2022 FotoFocus Biennial. Group exhibition. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and Museum, Hamilton, OH

May 2024               “The Fitton Center Season Members Show” Group exhibition. The Fitton Center, Hamilton, OH

April 2024               “For a Better World 2024.” Group exhibition. The Middletown Arts Center, Middletown, OH 

April 2024               “Person, Place, and Things.” Group exhibition. Dayton Society of the Arts, Dayton, OH

December 2023      “Share: photographs by Billy Simms.” Solo exhibition. The Oxford Community Arts Center, Oxford, OH

August 2023             “Class Act.” Group exhibition. The Fitton Center, Hamilton, OH

July 2023                   “The Work of The Fitton Center Printmaking Class.” Group Exhibition. The Oxford Community Arts Center, Oxford, OH

June 2023                  “SOS Art: Art for Peace and Justice.” Group exhibition. The Art Academy of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

May 2023                    “Hamilton Current Regional Art Exhibition.” Group Exhibition. Fitton Center, Hamilton, OH

September 2022        “Black and White.” Invitational exhibition. Artscape, Lebanon, OH

September 2022        “Eyewitness: The Impact of Deindustrialization on our World.” Part of the 2022 FotoFocus Biennial. Group exhibition. Dayton Society of the Arts, Dayton, OH

August 2022                “HxWxD Sculpture Exhibition.” Group exhibition. The Rosewood Art Center, Kettering, OH

May 2022                     “Race and The City.” Group exhibition. Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati, OH

April 2022                     “The Fitton Center Season Members Show.” Group exhibition. The Fitton Center, Hamilton, OH

August 2021:                 “Miami University Faculty and Alumni Exhibition.” Group exhibition. Miami University, Oxford, OH

June 2021:                     “A Preliminary Presentation Of The Research And Findings Of An Anthropological Investigation Into The Origins, Artifacts, Rituals, And People Who Created The 7th Hole Religion Of Craftowne As Curated By Craftowne Historian Billy Simms.” Solo exhibition. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and Museum, Hamilton, OH

May 2021                       “Legacy.” Group exhibition. Miami University Art Building Lobby Gallery

June 2021                      “Leftovers.” Group exhibition. 1628 Gallery, Cincinnati, OH

June 2021                      “For a Better World 2019, 2020, & 2021.” Group exhibition. Annex Gallery, Cincinnati, OH

May 2021                        “Hamilton Current Regional Art Exhibition. “Group exhibition. Fitton Center, Hamilton, OH

March 2021                    “Out of the Darkness Mask Installation.” Group exhibition. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, Hamilton, OH

January 2021                 “SOS Art Retrospective 2016-2020.” Group exhibition. Kennedy Heights Art Center, Cincinnati, OH

January 2021                 “Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ: Art Inspired by Bruce Springsteen’s Album.” Group exhibition. Curator. Miami University Western Center, Oxford, OH

October  2020               “Legacy.” Group exhibition. Kean University, Union, NJ 

April 2020                      “Fitton Center Member Show 2020.” Group exhibition. The Fitton Center, Hamilton, OH

February 2020               “Shifty.” Group exhibition. Fitton Center, Hamilton, OH

November 2019             “The Shit Show: a show about water accessibility.”  Group exhibition. Pendleton Arts Center, Cincinnati, OH

August 2019                    “The Fitton Center Season Launch Instructor Show.” Group exhibition. The Fitton Center, Hamilton, OH

September 2019              “The Image Pop Up Exhibition.” Group exhibition. The Image Conference, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, England

September 2019               “First Edition.” Group exhibition. 1628 LTD Gallery, Cincinnati, OH

June 2019                          “Ohio Annual Exhibition.” Group exhibition. Zanesville Museum of Art, Zanesville, OH

June 2019                           “SOS Art: Art for Peace and Justice.” Group exhibition. The Art Academy of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

April 2019                           “Text As, Story Text as Image, Text As….” Group exhibition. Curator. Miami University Art Building Lobby Gallery, Oxford, OH

March 2019                        “Salon des Refuses.” Group exhibition. Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center, Solomons, MD

December 2018                 “Proxy Holidays: This is Travel.” Solo exhibition in collaboration with Keith Tuma Oxford Community Arts Center, Oxford, OH

December 2018                 “That Will Make a Good Print: an exhibition of the work from Strongbox Press printmaking classes.” Group exhibition. Fitton Center for the Arts, Hamilton, OH

November 2018                 “Craftowne: a visual novel.” Solo exhibition. Joe’s Movement Emporium, Mount Rainier, MD

September 2018                “Go-Go Gallery: A Live 360 Art Exhibit . Group Exhibition. Great Northern Mall, Olmsted, OH

September 2018                “Sliding Into The Future.”  Invitational exhibition. Co-curato.Miami University Art Building Lobby Gallery, Oxford, OH

August 2018                        “25.” Group exhibition. The Fitton Center for the Arts, Hamilton, OH

June 2018                            “SOS Art: Art for Peace and Justice.” Group exhibition. The Art Academy of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

May 2018                             “9 x 18 Experiment.” Group exhibition. Wave Pool Gallery, Cincinnati OH

April 2018                            “For a Better World 2018.” Group exhibition. Miami Middletown Campus, Middletown, OH

March 2018                         “Art For Peace and Justice.” Group exhibition. Studio San Giuseppe Art Gallery, Mount St. Joseph University, Cincinnati, OH

January 2018                      “Artlink Regional Exhibition.” Group exhibition. Artlink Contemporary, Fort Wayne, IN

January 2018                      “Dayton Area Works on Paper Show.” Group exhibition. The Rosewood Art.  Center, Kettering, OH

December 2017                  “Little Ink 2017.” Group exhibition. Fuse Press, Cincinnati, OH

October 2017                      “Beaux Arts Ball.” Group exhibition. Oxford Community Arts Center, Oxford, OH

April 2017                              “Craftowne: a visual novel.” Miami University master thesis solo show. Hiestand Gallery, Oxford, OH

March 2017                           “Figures, Forms, and Stories: selected work by Miami University Thesis Candidates.” group exhibition. Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, OH

January 2017                        “Dayton Area Works on Paper Show.” Group exhibition. The Rosewood Art Center, Kettering, OH

January 2017                         “Students Response Show.” Group exhibition. Miami University Art Museum, Oxford, OH

June 2017                               “SOS Art: Art for Peace and Justice.” Group exhibition. The Art Academy of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

April 2017                                “Truth and Identity.” Two person show with Gabi Roach. The Pop Revolution Gallery, Hamilton, OH 

January 2016                          “Dayton Area Works on Paper Show.” Group exhibition. The Rosewood Art Center, Kettering, OH

January 2016                          “Students Response Show.” Group exhibition. Miami University Art Museum, Oxford, OH

October 2016                         “Displaced: The Mid-America College Arts Association Group Show.” Group exhibition. Cincinnati, OH

May 2016                                “For a Better World 2012.” Group exhibition. University of Cincinnati Clermont, Batavia, OH

December 2015                      “Artists as Activists.” Group exhibition. Hurdon Gallery, Antioch University, Yellow Springs, OH

November 2015                      “ARTED, The Rosewood Art Center.” Group exhibition. Kettering, OH

October 2015                          “The Ulysses Project.” Solo exhibition. The Oxford Community Arts Center, Oxford, OH

June 2015                                “SOS Art: Art for Peace and Justice.” Group exhibition. The Art Academy of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

May 2015                                 “CSE Purchase Award Program.” Group exhibition. Miami University, Oxford, OH

March 2015                              “The Fitton Biennial Show.” Group exhibition.  The Fitton Center for the Arts, Hamilton, OH

February 2015                          “ART 601.” Group exhibition. Co-curator. The Oxford Community Arts Center, Oxford, OH

January 2015                           “Student Response Show.” Group exhibition. Miami University Art Museum, Oxford, OH

January 2015                           “Dayton Area Works on Paper Show.” Group exhibition. Third place award. The Rosewood Art Center, Kettering, OH

October 2014                           “Middletown Arts Center Area Art Show.” Group exhibition. Honorable mention in drawing. The Middletown Arts Center, Middletown, OH

October 2014                           “Beyond the Book.” Group exhibition. Faneuil Public Library, Boston, MA

October 2014                           “The Photography Exhibition.” Group exhibition. Tomahawk Ridge  Community Centerville, Overland Park, KS

Residencies

July 2019                                   Arts in the Parks. Artist in residence. Portland, IN

January 2019                            The Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center. Artist in Action. Solomons, MD

November 2018                        Joe’s Movement Emporium. Artist in residence. Mount Rainier, MD

July 2018                                   Arts in the Parks. Artist in Residence. Portland, IN

January 2018                            The Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center. Artist in Action. Solomons, MD

July 2017                                    Arts in the Parks. Artist in Residence. Portland, IN

Selected Performances

September 2021                       “Who’s Afraid of Victor Von Wolfe.” Original puppet performance.” Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, Hamilton, OH

April 2021                                  “Earth Puppet for Art & Earth Day.” Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, Hamilton, OH

April 2020                                 “Earth Puppet for Art & Earth Day.” Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, Hamilton, OH

February 2020                         “With Eyes That Hear and Ears That See .” Created an original print on  stage while the Butler Philharmonic. Performed the original composition “With Eyes That Hear and Ears That See” composed and conducted by John Paul Stanberry. Fitton Center for the Creative Arts, Hamilton, OH

February 2018                         “The Tank at Kaos Studios.” Eight hour performance drawing with Gabi  Roach as Part of The Cabin Fever Music Festival. Ludlow, KY.

November 2016                       “Read selections from Craftowne: a visual novel.” The 2016 Miami University Writer’s Harvest, Oxford, OH

April 2016                                  “Open Puppet Carry: Public Response Demonstration to an Open Carry Demonstration.” Oxford, OH

November 2010                       “Performed All Our Futile Grief: a vicarious vacation in London.” Performed with Keith Tuma. Writer’s Harvest 2010 Peabody Hall, Miami University, Oxford, OH

October 2009 “Another Time, Another Room.” Puppeteer.  Oxford Community Arts Center Oxford, OH

Selected Publications

f(r)iction online, Four serialized installments in the serialization of Craftowne: a visual novel, April-May 2019

Imaging Lynd Ward, Three illustrations for a novel by David Berona, published by Freedom Voices, 2015,

Fiction Fix: Literary Journal of The University of North Florida, The Clown Genocide: a novel in woodcuts, 2012

Selected Presentations

July 2023 “Craftowne: the 7th Hole.” The Arts in Society Annual Conference. Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland

September 2022 “Craftowne: the 7th Hole.” The Image 13th Annual Conference, Austin TX

September 2020 “Images Not Words: a case study of a novel in woodcuts.” Virtual. The Image 11th Annual Conference. 

November 2019 “Always Crashing The Same Car.” Artist talk at Miami University.

September 2019 “Craftowne: a case study of installation art as comics.” The Image 10th Annual Conference, Manchester, England

April 2019 “Craftowne: a case study of installation art as comics.” International Comics Arts Forum, Davenport, IA

October 2016 “Studio Shift.” Panel member. Mid-America College Arts Association, Cincinnati, OH

October 2016 “Audience as Performer in Printmaking.” Presenter and panel chair. Mid-America Print Council Conference, Louisville, KY

Selected Awards and Honors

Student Recognition of Teaching Excellence, Miami University, Fall Semester, 2020.

Place Dayton Area Works on Paper Show, 3rd Place, 2015.

The Drake University Emerging Writer Award in Graphic Narrative, 2013. 

Award of Excellence Dayton Area Works on Paper Show, 2012.

HxWxD Midwest Regional Sculpture Exhibition, 1st Place Award, 2011. 

Teacher That Makes a Difference Award. Talawanda High School, 2010.

The Fitton Center Biennial Show, Honorable Mention for Printmaking, 2008.

Crystal Apple Teacher of the Year Award. Talawanda School District, 2007.

Kanapaha Middle School Teacher of the Year, 2001.

Jack R. Lamb Rookie Teacher of the Year for the State of Florida. Florida Federation Council For Exceptional Children, 2000.