Bernard Simon

1896-1980

Simon studied with the artist Chaim Gross, among others; his work has been exhibited throughout the US, including the Whitney Museum, and the Museum of Natural History, NY, and is in numerous collections including the Walker Art Center and the Joseph H. Hirshorn Collection.

It was in the summer of 1945 the artist Chaim Gross invited sculptor Bernard Simon to Provincetown for a creative respite. Thus began Simon’s life-long. Thus began Simon’s life-ling connection to the Cape and love affair with Provincetown’s arts community.

Bernard Simon worked in a variety of media, including exotic hardwoods from Africa and abroad, and the lost wax method of metal casting. It was in stone that the sculptor found his true medium, however; the immediacy and variety of stone, as well as its durability, offered him the greatest amount of freedom to create.

Simon’s figurative work represents an intimate engagement with his materials. Rather than sketch out an image, or try to execute a predetermined idea, Simon worked as the Renaissance sculptors had, without intermediaries, guided by instinct and inspiration. These sculptures exude a timeless simplicity and exploit the sensual qualities of various kinds of stone. Images of lovers, mothers and children, nudes and seated figures represent what Simon called his “family of man.”

Bernard Simon was born in Yedinitz, Russia and immigrated to the US in his 16th year. He studied with the artist Chaim Gross, among others; his work has been exhibited throughout the US, including the Whitney Museum, and the Museum of Natural History, NY, and is in numerous collections including the Walker Art Center and the Joseph H. Hirshorn Collection.