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Bio
Micah Simmons was born in Pensacola, Florida, December 3, 1974. Two years later, his family moved to Houston, Texas, where he was raised. When Micah was twelve, he and his mother had the opportunity to go to Amsterdam. He was exposed to a whole new world of culture and, more importantly, to art. As he recalls, he took in all that he could, including a visit to the Rykes Museum where he saw the Dutch masters. That is the point when the painter's way was fixed in his mind, and it would form him into what and who he is today.
Life was not easy for Micah, who grew up with many health issues, one of which was Keratoconus, a degenerative eye disorder. This disorder did not show up until his freshman year in high school. It was hard to study even with the aid of contacts, but what was constant was the art. It was natural for him, and, even with his slowly failing eyesight, it was what he could do successfully. With the encouragement of his family and the high school art teacher, he finished senior high and continued to pursue what he knew--art. He enrolled in Houston Community College, where he met David Swaim, a painter who taught art. Micah was inspired and encouraged by this teacher, all the while still struggling with academics because of vision.
In 2000, out of money and school, Micah met Blay Ruffino III. Together they started their run in the Houston club scene, doing what they called "live art." Micah states, "For me, producing the art this way is about feeling, not seeing." At that time no one in Houston had seen anyone who could produce full artistic paintings on the spot, in front of crowds. For Micah, this was the start of his professional art career. He began to make sales, get publicity, have shows, and even be on local TV from time to time.
In February 2008, with the help of Dr. Dan Jones, Dr. Bowes Hamil, and Houston's Methodist Hospital, Micah underwent a corneal transplant in his right eye. This would allow him not only to see clearly for the first time in twenty-six years but allow him to see what everyone else saw in his art. Micah states, "It's weird to see this clearly, but my work has changed only a little. My style is a lot tighter than before, but painting the way I did for so long means that I will always feel it first."
That is the story of what makes Micah "theartist" Simmons the artist he is today.
Life was not easy for Micah, who grew up with many health issues, one of which was Keratoconus, a degenerative eye disorder. This disorder did not show up until his freshman year in high school. It was hard to study even with the aid of contacts, but what was constant was the art. It was natural for him, and, even with his slowly failing eyesight, it was what he could do successfully. With the encouragement of his family and the high school art teacher, he finished senior high and continued to pursue what he knew--art. He enrolled in Houston Community College, where he met David Swaim, a painter who taught art. Micah was inspired and encouraged by this teacher, all the while still struggling with academics because of vision.
In 2000, out of money and school, Micah met Blay Ruffino III. Together they started their run in the Houston club scene, doing what they called "live art." Micah states, "For me, producing the art this way is about feeling, not seeing." At that time no one in Houston had seen anyone who could produce full artistic paintings on the spot, in front of crowds. For Micah, this was the start of his professional art career. He began to make sales, get publicity, have shows, and even be on local TV from time to time.
In February 2008, with the help of Dr. Dan Jones, Dr. Bowes Hamil, and Houston's Methodist Hospital, Micah underwent a corneal transplant in his right eye. This would allow him not only to see clearly for the first time in twenty-six years but allow him to see what everyone else saw in his art. Micah states, "It's weird to see this clearly, but my work has changed only a little. My style is a lot tighter than before, but painting the way I did for so long means that I will always feel it first."
That is the story of what makes Micah "theartist" Simmons the artist he is today.
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ph: 713.256.6885
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