Columbus Simpson

Columbus Simpson was an artist active briefly during the mid-1930s, working primarily in 1935 and 1936. Their verifiable output is closely associated with the Index of American Design (IDAD), a seminal project developed under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to create a comprehensive visual record of historic American material culture and design.

Simpson’s known body of work consists of fifteen documented items preserved in museum collections, reflecting the detailed, illustrative style required for the IDAD initiative. These works document a range of early American decorative and utilitarian objects. Titles represented in collections include studies of domestic furnishings and objects such as a Baby's Rattle, a Box, various representations of a Chest, and drawings of lighting fixtures like the Candle Chandelier.

The quality and historical significance of these records are affirmed by their inclusion in major institutional holdings. Works by the artist are represented in the collections of the National Gallery of Art. Today, the precise documentation found in Columbus Simpson prints, often related to objects now considered public domain, provides valuable reference material and is frequently available as high-quality prints for researchers and collectors.