1998: Uncanny Valley

1998: Uncanny Valley is a solo exhibition by Laurie Simmons, the legendary New York artist whose five-decade career spans photography, film, and installation. While freelancing for a miniature company in the 1970s, Simmons acquired a collection of antique dolls — an event that sparked a lifelong artistic pursuit. Since then, she has staged scenes with figures in constellations and against dramatic lighting, creating images with nonlinear narrative and charged with psychological subtext. 

The exhibition features a selection of vintage photographs, originally presented in 1998. The images revisit elements introduced in Simmons’ early work: architectural models, interiors with designer furniture, and genre scenes with figures. Simple in form, they challenge topics such as domesticity, intimacy, security, and authenticity. While engaging with themes of modernity and nostalgia, they raise a question about the border between real and unreal, known as the "uncanny valley."