Gerry Sims is a Seattle-based multidisciplinary artist working with reclaimed and recycled materials to embed sustainability throughout his creative process. His paintings and sculptures often begin in quiet reflection, inspired by how his ancestors approached making art. Each piece is infused with history and emotion — expressing a lineage of resilience, joy, and transformation.
Sims' solo exhibition, "Wasted Materials," is currently on view at Common Objects with select weekday gallery hours. The show debuted during the March Belltown Art Walk and will runs through Thursday, April 11, with a closing reception that evening from 6–9 PM.
"Wasted Materials" explores the Black American experience through sculpture, airbrushing, and painting. Drawing from his ancestral legacy, Sims channels the emotional depth and complexity of identity into a richly layered visual language. The result is a compelling meditation on the power of creative expression and its ability to carry memory and catalyze change.
This body of work was created during Sims’ time as the first recipient of Common Area Maintenance’s BIPOC Artist Residency - a three-month program that offers studio space, resources, and support to underrepresented artists. Developed with the help of CAM’s donors, the residency aims to build long-lasting connections between artists, CAM, and the broader Seattle community. CAM remains deeply committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive space for artists to develop and share their work.
"Working with reclaimed materials allows me to honor what already exists. These materials come with history, texture, and imperfections that bring a raw, honest energy to the work. I’m not interested in creating more waste when there’s so much around us with value and story still left in it. Using what’s already here challenges me to think differently and make something meaningful out of what might’ve been discarded." -G.S.
"I find inspiration through observation paying attention to the quiet details, the way things move, shift, or fall apart over time. Being present in the moment allows me to catch what’s often overlooked . From textures, gestures, fragments of emotion. That’s where the work begins. My children and my partner naturally become part of that process their presence adds layers to what I notice and feel but it’s really about staying aware, open, and responsive to the world around me. Those everyday impressions shape how I create and what I choose to say through the work."
"My advice is work even when you don’t want to. Make honest work, and trust that your ideas will grow the more you show up for them. Creativity doesn’t thrive in perfection it thrives in process. For me, my start came out of necessity. Making things has always been a natural part of my life, and over time it became a form of survival, expression, and reflection. My practice is rooted in persistence and the belief that creating is essential." -G.S.
Gerry Sims
ig: bootleggericecream1000
Common Area
2601 1st Ave
Seattle, WA 98121
camseattle.org
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