An Evening with Coreen Simpson

Join us for an evening with the pioneering photographer Coreen Simpson

Coreen Simpson carved her own path—never waiting for permission to create the images she believed the world needed to see. In 1978, while working at the Studio Museum in Harlem, she famously convinced Toni Morrison to sit for an “official portrait,” capturing the author with a steady gaze and a cigarette poised in her hand—an image that embodies Morrison’s power and Simpson’s instinct for revealing the soul of her subjects. Join us for an evening with the pioneering photographer as she reflects on a life shaped by curiosity, resilience, and fearless creativity—from photographing icons like James Baldwin, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Muhammad Ali to building her celebrated Black Cameo jewelry line. Through images and stories, Simpson will share how following what she calls “the blood beats” led to a singular artistic journey.

Image: Toni Morrison, 1978