The final installment of Coffee with Creatives features Holly Simon, a talented artist rounding out their last year at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art.
Initially focused on honing their illustration and technical drawing skills, Simon soon discovered a passion for working in 3D mediums, primarily in the wood shops.
This new direction has significantly influenced Simon’s artistic journey, as they expressed a fascination with the physicality of art that exists beyond a flat surface.
“I love the idea of making a drawing that I’ve made 3D,” Simon explained.
Their interest in creating ancient-looking artworks, often sculptural in nature, has led to a unique blend of illustration and three-dimensional creation.
Themes drawn from antiquity and medieval art permeate Simon’s work, making their artistic voice distinctive in the contemporary landscape.
These influences first surfaced during high school when Simon crafted a handmade tarot card deck featuring original arcana figures, which laid the groundwork for their future explorations in world-building and mythical design.
Simon’s desire to explore themes of antiquity and myth stems from their belief in the increasing rarity of such elements in today’s art world.
“We don’t have anything equivalent to [medieval art and alchemical drawings] anymore,” they remarked.
Simon finds profound appeal in the enduring mystery of ancient art, acknowledging that much of its meaning remains speculative.
With their current work, Simon aims to create a fictional world imbued with elements of ancient art, filled with mystery and layers of interpretation.
As part of their senior thesis project, Simon plans to delve into a deeply personal topic: their experience with chronic pain.
The project involves the creation of a wall-mounted triptych altar dedicated to pain as a concept, exploring its grounding effect on one’s body and its potential connection to spirituality.
“I was starting to get really mired down in [my chronic pain], and I wanted to find a way to make it feel meaningful, or that there was something good in a situation that does not ever feel good,” they explained.
Through their art, Simon seeks to infuse common human experiences with profound meaning, using rare art forms to elevate the conversation around pain and other significant topics.
As graduation approaches and the thesis exhibition nears, Simon is looking ahead to a career in artmaking.
There is potential for them to secure a space at Brighton’s Artisans Asylum, yet Simon’s ultimate aspiration lies in production design for films.
Their vision aligns with aspirations that could see them becoming a prominent figure in the art world, reminiscent of iconic artists like H.R. Giger.
However, the true gem of Simon’s journey has been the artistic community they’ve found at SMFA.
Reflecting on their time at the school, Simon expressed that building friendships with fellow students has been one of the highlights of their experience, even with just a week left in senior year.
“We’re really not that scary,” they assured, dispelling any myths about the intimidating nature of art students.
As Simon continues to create, their work promises to enchant audiences, weaving in threads of mysticism and benevolence, reminiscent of the mythical entities they invoke in their artwork.
Those interested in viewing Simon’s project can attend the annual SMFA Senior Thesis Exhibition on May 17, 2025.
image source from：https://www.tuftsdaily.com/article/2025/04/coffee-with-creatives-enter-the-magical-world-of-holly-simon
