Sylvia Salazar Simpson
Sylvia Salazar Simpson, age 86 passed away on Sunday, August 17, 2025 with her family by her side.
Sylvia was preceded in death by her husband Thomas Jeremy “Jerry” Simpson; her father Delfin Salazar and mother, Veneranda Gutiérrez Salazar.
Sylvia Salazar Simpson was born on July 25, 1939 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Her family moved to Mexico City in 1947. She attended the American School Foundation. Her mother Veneranda, who had been a teacher, made a great effort to expose Sylvia and little Delfin to museums, churches, and cultural destinations of Mexico. She attended St. Benedict’s in St. Joseph, Minnesota. She graduated from Colegío de Guadalupe, Mexico City. She attended Barat College, Lake Forest, Illinois. Sylvia studied nursing at El Instituto de Cardología (Institute of Cardiology), Mexico City, from 1961-1963 and received her degree. She then traveled with friends to Italy to study in Rome on board SS France where she met her future husband Thomas Jeremy Simpson. They continued their long distance courtship while writing letters for two and a half years. They were married on June 29, 1965 in San Jose Vista Hermosa, Mexico. During their marriage, Sylvia and Jerry traveled through Europe and extensively through Mexico.
Sylvia and Jerry settled in Pasadena, California in 1965. Soon after Sylvia started her BFA at Otis Art Institute, Los Angeles, studying painting under John Altoon. They started a family and welcomed Andrea in 1967 and Claudia in 1969. She went on to California Institute of the Arts, Valencia moving away from painting and into conceptual art, studying under John Baldessari and Allan Kaprow. At about the same time Sylvia met photographer Vaughan Rachel, Allan’s wife, who became her life long best friend. She produced her first works during these years. Sylvia also developed a passion for gardening and cooking Mexican cuisine.
The family moved to Los Olivos, California in September of 1977 to experience country life and those years were extraordinary. A bucolic existence filled with people, animals, wine, food and nature but most of all family and friends. There she produced Antés y Después (Before and After) as a continuation of her head dress series of 19 photographs entitled, Sylvia Salazar Simpson created in the mid seventies.
One of Sylvia’s most impactful installations, LAMEXOD was created in 1983 through the former Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum.
In November 1993, Sylvia and Jerry lost their home, belongings and most of her paintings in the Old Topanga Fire. Despite the horrible setback, she emerged stronger by continuing her photography and in addition began supporting her family. She became a Spanish language interpreter. After Jerry passed in August 2003 she continued to work as a medical interpreter until early 2022 which brought close friends into her life.
A highlight of Sylvia’s life was participating in the 2017 exhibition, Radical Women: Latin American Art: 1960-1985, at the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles.
Sylvia was proudly sober since August 8, 2011 and had recently celebrated 14 years of sobriety. She made some very treasured friendships in program.
Up until she left Los Angeles in January of 2024, she was making installations and small arrangements in her apartment and in assisted living. No matter where she lived, there was a lush garden and a delicious meal to be had. Sylvia’s pride in her Mexican heritage, irreverent spirit, incessant curiosity and ethereal beauty remained with her always. We miss her deeply.
Sylvia is survived by her daughter Andrea Simpson; her daughter Claudia Simpson Frierson (Erik Frierson); her brother Delfin Salazar, Sr. and her granddaughter Catalina Frierson.
Donations in Sylvia’s memory can be made to Cal Arts please see link below:
