About Anthony Sims

Anthony Sims is an American contemporary painter born in Southaven, Mississippi, on October 11, 1998. He grew up with his mother, older brother, and older sister after his father was deported to Mexico in 2006. Anthony spent most of his childhood in Lewisburg, Mississippi. During his senior year at Lewisburg High School, he won two Silver Keys at the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards hosted at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. Sims was also recognized by the Olive Branch Art Council at an annual event, winning "Best in Show" for his cut paper portrait "I Cut." By the end of 2017, Anthony began painting in his dorm room at Northwest Mississippi Community College.

The following year, in 2018, Noah Womack introduced Anthony Sims to the Memphis, Tennessee, art scene. Anthony began to exhibit his newest paintings in street shows hosted at 409 South Main St. by a local organization known as Food Drank Culture. It was at his first show with Food Drank Culture where he met Kea Woods, who helped bridge Anthony from street artist into gallery artist.

In 2019, Sims landed his first official magazine publication in The Pinch Journal from the University of Memphis and his first gallery show at Jack Robinson's Gallery. By July, Anthony faced several complications and left Memphis on the verge of homelessness. He moved to Dallas, Texas, where he lived with Hannah Dimmitt and her father, Mike Dimmitt. At Mike's home, Anthony produced a series of loose canvas paintings that got him inducted into the American Pop Art Collective in New York City, created by Diana Vachier and Steve Kaufman. In November, LA Producer NugLife took notice of Sims and commissioned cover artwork for the first project, "Long Flights," featuring Issa Gold. The partnership between NugLife and Anthony Sims would continue for many years, resulting in the creation of several covers with artists such as Yung Simmie, Rocky G, Noa James, Gavlyn, Vel Nine, etc.

At the start of the new year, Hannah and Anthony rented their first home together in Fort Worth, Texas. It was there that Anthony created several notable paintings, two of which were accepted into the Meridian Museum of Art's permanent collection, making him one of the youngest artists ever accepted into a museum's collection. Anthony Sims met with Kate Cherry, the executive director of the Meridian Museum, in June 2020 to deliver his two works "Not Finished" and "Deal With It."

In January 2021, Anthony was accepted onto the SuperRare NFT marketplace and began selling paintings. His success enabled him to purchase his first home with Hannah Dimmitt in April. Sims' most well-known painting and NFT video "Not sure about myself, I am certain" sold on May 14th. That sale prompted a nationwide tour for Anthony's artworks. Holding exhibitions in major cities such as Memphis, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Oakland, and Austin. Anthony sold out of his debut solo show in Los Angeles. His exposure during this period contributed to his inclusion in his first international exhibition in London at the end of the year.

At the beginning of 2022, Anthony opened his first studio space, apart from his home, in what is known as the Tin District located in Dallas, Texas. In addition to his growth in Dallas, Anthony was one of five artists featured in “Another Dimension: Digital Art in Memphis” and spoke on a panel discussion about NFTs at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. In September, Anthony held his first international solo show in Mexico City, featuring five paintings and five NFTs at the Proyecto H Contemporáneo Gallery. Shortly after leaving Mexico, Anthony was invited to speak at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, by Professor Simon Mak. Closing out 2022, Anthony exhibited an NFT during Art Basel in Miami, Florida, on a 60ft wide floating billboard in partnership with Art Innovation Gallery.

Opening up 2023, Anthony’s art piece “Mississippi Blue” was featured for the year in the Science Museum Oklahoma. Sims' partnership with Art Innovation Gallery continued in 2023 and included being featured on billboards in Hong Kong and Times Square. Anthony’s Times Square billboard piece focused on celebrating the life of Tyre Nichols and was displayed during Frieze Week in New York City. Additionally, the NFT Factory in Paris, France, displayed a MEME created by Anthony Sims titled “Down Bad, Still Sad” in April 2023. Anthony and Hannah separated in the summer of 2023, selling their home in Fort Worth, Texas. The separation was followed by Anthony returning to Mississippi.

Anthony's first show of 2024 took place in Florence, Italy, where he exhibited his painting "Solitude" in collaboration with Dimensions DAO. During the Florence show, Anthony's best friend, Will Short, tragically died in a car accident in Dallas, Texas. Will's passion for Anthony's work was unmatched; he cherished over five of Anthony's paintings, each a testament to their enduring friendship. Several months passed before Anthony made a public appearance again, this time in Memphis, Tennessee, with David Yancy III and WYXR Radio to promote  an exhibition with the Clandestine Creative Club. Following his tenure with the club, Anthony made the decision to relocate to New York in the summer of 2024.