Simone Agoussoye (simoneagoussoye.com)

Washington, D.C.–born artist Simone Agoussoye creates portraiture that exists at the intersection of realism and reverence. For over a decade, she has explored the depths of human identity through paint, glass, and texture—rendering faces not merely as likenesses, but as living reflections of spirit, beauty, and strength.

Her mixed-media works often integrate materials like crushed glass, an element she uses to refract the complexities of individuality and transformation. Each fragment becomes a metaphor for resilience, illuminating the space between realism and imagination.

Agoussoye earned her degree from the Art Institute of Washington in 2011. Over the years, she has received numerous awards recognizing her innovative approach to contemporary portraiture and her exceptional technical skill. In 2023, Agoussoye was selected for BET AIR’s Artist in Residence program, further cementing her reputation as a leading voice in modern figurative art. Her work has been exhibited in institutions including The Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C.; Arlington Museum of Contemporary Art, Arlington, VA; Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, Norwalk, CT; and ArtReach GW at THEARC, Washington, D.C. Agoussoye’s portraits are held in private collections across the United States, the United Kingdom, and beyond, with collectors including Missy Elliott, K. Michelle, and Justine Skye and more.