Gary Simpson, born 1947, is a lifelong resident of Laguna Beach, California. He received his degree from California State University at Long Beach in 1971. He soon thereafter began exhibiting in Laguna Beach, California and the surrounding western states.

Simpson has worked with cement as a medium of artistic expression since 1986. Years of dedicated effort in developing unique cement mixtures have culminated in his lively, colorful abstract frescos. These large scale works are complex explorations of color, texture, and shape that emerge from his on–going experiment with material and technique.

About his work, Simpson says ”I take my medium and my inspiration from the Earth”. Cement has been used for centuries as a building material, but in using it as an artistic medium, I free it from its functionality in a work of art. In the same way that cement is an extract of the Earth, I view my abstract art as expressions of my relation to the Earth. My frescos are a result of cement, metal and wood that are stained, acid etched and manipulated by water and fire. The result is a complex exploration of color and texture, evoking ancient natural earth formations.

Since 2002 working on the CommonGround191 project, I have attempted to depict the Earth and its cultures, by incorporating soil gathered from the 192 countries of the United Nations

Click here to see samples of Gary's Fresco Panels, on display at various Western Galleries.

Click here for more information on how to participate in Common Ground 191

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