Local artist’s painting of iconic boardwalk heading to Rome

By Madison Russ

Some of Russ Simmons’ earliest memories include sitting on his grandmother’s back porch with a paintbrush in hand. Raised in an artistically inclined family, his creative interests were encouraged from a young age.

Now, the North Cape May artist’s work can be spotted all over Cape May County, from a Grecian landscape mural on the side of Wildwood restaurant Santorini to the label wrapped around a can from MudHen Brewing Company.

But having one of his pieces hanging in a gallery in Rome, Italy? That hasn’t quite sunk in.

Russ Simmons’ painting of the iconic Wildwood boardwalk will be featured in an exhibit in Rome, Italy, in February following its selection in an international artists competition.

“I feel like when I’m actually there, and it’s on the wall, and I’m standing in front of it, it will seem even more real. Right now, it’s kind of surreal,” said Simmons.

His vibrant depiction of the iconic Wildwood boardwalk, aptly titled “America’s Boardwalk,” will soon travel overseas to hang in the Dantebus Margutta Gallery in Rome after being selected through an international competition. Simmons plans to attend the exhibit’s opening in February.

Simmons discovered the gallery while his daughter was studying art in Florence last semester. When the opportunity to submit his work to the competition arose, he took the chance. He kept tabs on the voting but admitted he “almost forgot about it” — until the gallery called to ask if he’d be interested in sending his piece to exhibit in Florence or Rome.

“I was like, absolutely!” he laughed, noting that this is the first time he’s had his artwork in a gallery.

“I never really approached any local galleries, believe it or not, because I was building a body of work,” said Simmons.

The painting is part of Simmons’ “The Feeling of Wildwood” series, with some pieces featuring classic Wildwood iconography in his signature style. One piece depicts King Kong — a nod to the ride — scaling a lighthouse and clutching a Sightseer tram car. Another shows boardwalk swings floating freely in a blue sky.

Simmons believes that part of what works with “America’s Boardwalk” comes from his connection to the island.

“I’m there so much. I know the feeling, and I know the smells. I know the excitement, and it just comes out in the artwork,” said Simmons. “I think any good artwork is like that: once you immerse yourself in the environment, it’s going to come out in it.”

Bringing that essence of Wildwood to a new audience in Rome is especially meaningful to the artist.

“It feels nice to have it recognized, but I think it feels even nicer because it’s actually a piece of where we come from, where we live. That excitement — I’m able to carry it somewhere else,” said Simmons. “Hopefully they’ll get it, too.”

But shore motifs weren’t always Simmons’ style. When he moved to the area 12 years ago, he initially focused on marketing and graphic design, carving out a niche in social media. He said his art didn’t immediately connect in a community that tends to favor traditional beach imagery, but he adapted by blending his colorful style with it.

“This area is a place people hold close to them, which I found I could connect with in my art — capturing those moments, capturing the memories,” he said.

For Simmons, guiding people to feel something through his art is a key part of his artistic journey, likening it to how a song can bring them back to a moment in their life.

“That’s the journey I’m on with my art is to send people to that place,” said Simmons.

Simmons shares his expertise through workshops and weekly paint and sip classes, helping people of all ages discover their creative spark.

“To get a group of people to come away with a really nice painting, some people who have never painted before, it really invigorates me. It’s refreshing when people are really excited about the art,” he said, noting he encourages attendees to experiment by altering colors and perspectives or adding their own touches. Some classes have even attracted a regular following.

“I don’t want it to look like the reference painting we’re doing. I want it to be their painting,” said Simmons.

Looking ahead, Simmons has plenty of artistic ventures on the horizon: more mural projects, including the Bolero Resort in Wildwood, workshops at Atlantic Cape Community College’s Cape May County campus starting in March and a forthcoming studio, gallery and event space located in the Boardwalk Mall in Wildwood.

He hopes to continue exhibiting his work internationally while raising awareness for the arts, believing the area could become a recognizable hub for all art forms in the coming years.

“I’d love to see it be a recognizable spot,” said Simmons. “Just build a culture of appreciation of the arts. That’s kind of my vision … I just want to be a part of it and spearhead it where I need to and be a part of it where I can.”

Madison Russ is an award-winning journalist, copy editor and adjunct professor of communication based in Atlantic County. An Ocean City native, Madison is passionate about telling stories that matter to locals, often spotlighting nonprofits and exploring the area’s vibrant arts scene.

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