Joshua
"The Wolf"
Simon

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Joshua Simon's Biography

Joshua Simon, born in 1979 in Tel Aviv, continually transcends the boundaries of a single professional title. As a curator, writer, publisher, culturally focused critic, poetic scribe, filmmaker, and public intellectual, Simon utilizes his diverse array of talents to contribute meaningfully to various aspects of the cultural sphere. Currently residing in Philadelphia, PA, his work and influence extend far beyond the city limits.

Embracing his passion for curating in the early 2000s, Simon launched his career by initiating an art exhibition, within the unconventional setting of his rooftop apartment. With this exhibition, humorously titled “I Slept With Ari Libsker,” Simon established a hub of creativity that would eventually aid in the launch of several careers within the art world, including Roee Rosen, Zoya Cherkassky, and Roy Chicky Arad.

Elevating his career further, Simon took great strides in the field of curation by overseeing cutting-edge exhibitions in numerous international cities including Tel Aviv-Yafo, NYC, Melbourne, London, Zürich, Vienna, Berlin, and Amsterdam.

At just 33 years of age, Simon was appointed the youngest director in the history of Israel at MoBY-Museums of Bat Yam between 2012 and 2017. His contributions included astute curation and visionary leadership that had a profound impact on Israel’s cultural landscape. Simultaneously, alongside Roy Chicky Arad, he co-founded the Maayan publishing organization based in Tel Aviv-Yafo, broadening his influence into the domain of publishing.

Simon’s writings resonated worldwide, prompting discourse at academic institutions such as the Royal College of Art in London, Northwestern University in Chicago, and the Oslo National Academy of the Arts in Norway. Even as he climbed the echelons of leadership in the museum space, Simon remained an active curator, collaborating with Arad and Ari Libsker on an exhibition titled “Iran”. The provocative display was seen as a commentary against Israeli government plans for warfare with Iran.

His enriched understanding of art informed his insightful teachings at the Hamidrasha School of Art, Beit Berl College’s Postgraduate program. And he fueled MoBY-Museums of Bat Yam’s growth by spearheading international programming and solo-shows that garnered global attention.

The dynamism of Simon’s career path is paralleled by the depth and diversity of his collaborative relationships with internationally recognized artists, writers, and curators — from Hito Steyerl and Thomas Galler to Harald Thys and Jos de Gruyter, among many others. His literary contributions have enriched the pages of publications like Springerin, Frieze, and e-flux journal.

In addition to being a fellow at both the Vera List Center for Art and Politics and the Akademie de Künst der Welt, Simon authored the critical book “Neomaterialism” (2013). His discourse on the transformation of materialism in today’s society critically examined the shifts affecting labor, commodities, and symbols. It’s been said his book steered the conversation away from the re-fetishization and de-contextualization trends of contemporary art circles. Moreover, the book spawned reading groups and programs all across Europe, UK, and the US.

Simon’s involvement in launching The New and Bad Art Gallery in Tel Aviv confirmed his commitment to nurturing fresh talent. Setting a unique stage for debut solo exhibitions by promising young artists, the gallery flourished before migrating under new leadership to Haifa for two years of operation.

Perhaps Simon’s lasting legacy will be his ability to synthesize his varied roles and skills, allowing him to make far-reaching contributions to the realms of art, publishing, curation, academia, and beyond. Always attentive to the connective tissue between poetic imagination, sociopolitical realities, and high theory, Simon embodies a singular force in the ever-evolving world of art and culture.