Mason Fine Art, ‘John Simmons On View’
Mason Fine Art, ‘John Simmons On View’
John Simmons, ASC, is featured in It Started in the 60s at Mason Fine Art in Atlanta, a group exhibition bringing together historic and contemporary artists whose work explores memory, identity, and Black cultural life across generations. Simmons’ photographs are exhibited alongside works by Lev Mills, Shareon “Bhare” Blenman, Vivian Maier, Robert Sengstacke, Paul Cadden, and Sally Mann, with the presentation further highlighting Simmons’ decades-long photographic practice documenting Black American life beginning in the 1960s. During the exhibition, Simmons also participates in a public conversation with curator and cultural historian T. K. Smith, discussing photography, storytelling, and cultural memory.
IPF 2026
2026 Inglewood Photo Festival
John Simmons, ASC, received the IPF Documentary Vision Award at the 2026 Inglewood Photo Festival in recognition of his lasting contributions to documentary photography, visual storytelling, and Black visual culture. Presented in Inglewood before a local community of photographers, artists, and cultural leaders, the honor celebrated Simmons’ decades-long body of work documenting Black American life with emotional depth, historical perspective, and enduring relevance.
Getty Museum, ‘Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955-1985’
Getty Museum, Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955-1985
Simmons’ work was included in the Getty presentation of Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955-1985, a major exhibition organized by the National Gallery of Art that examines how artists used photography to advance Black culture, self-representation, activism, and community during and after the civil rights era.
BUTTER LA Art Fair
BUTTER LA Art Fair
John Simmons, ASC, was included among the exhibiting artists for BUTTER Los Angeles, the inaugural LA edition of the no-commission fine art fair centered on Black visual artists. The presentation positioned Simmons’ photography and collage practice within a broader cultural platform focused on creative ownership, collecting, and direct artist support.
Matter Studio Gallery, 'A Matter of Things Seen'
A Matter of Things Seen
A Matter of Things Seen presented Simmons’ black-and-white photography alongside mixed-media collage works, bringing together images of everyday life, social history, memory, and human dignity across decades. The exhibition framed Simmons’ practice as both witness and reflection, connecting his early photographic eye to his continued work across still and moving images.
CAAM Cinema, ‘100 Years of Debbie Allen’
‘100 Years of Debbie Allen’
CAAM Cinema presented 100 Years of Debbie Allen, directed by John Simmons, ASC, followed by a conversation with Debbie Allen and Simmons. The film celebrates Allen’s life, artistry, mentorship, and the 25th anniversary of Debbie Allen Dance Academy, connecting her personal journey to a larger legacy of Black and brown creative excellence.