BIO

Similéjésù, popularly known as Simi (b. 1998), is a transient Nigerian immigrant perpetually living between two places. As someone diving between multiple worlds, Simi uses her artistic practice to create bridges between the realms she finds herself in. As a storyteller, Simi uses film, comics, and ceramics to explore death, Islam, parasocial relationships, and womanhood.


Simi’s work is inspired by black feminist cultural workers such as June Jordan, Kathleen Collins, and Dr. Rosemary Ndubuizu—thinkers who inspired her to look at the world, recognize her place in it and tell stories from her center. Simi creates art to speak to her younger, current, and future selves—to live in peace with all parts of herself. Through the stories she tells, Simi presents, questions, and explores worldviews to affirm, challenge, and expand the minds of her audience, like the black feminist cultural workers that came before her.


As a filmmaker, Simi has worked in production for narrative and non-fiction projects, including shorts such as “Mama Duke”, directed by Cyrille Phipps, “I Won the Lottery” directed by Jenn Shaw, and the docu-series Harry and Meghan, directed by Liz Garbus. As a Bronx Documentary Film Fellow under the mentorship of Tânia Cypriano, Simi began creating her short documentary, “Making Braids.” This nonfiction film centers the African Hair Salon and explores how young women in the African diaspora grow to understand and perform womanhood and their cultures. The project is currently in post-production and aims for a 2025 festival run.


In 2024 Simi completed the 2023 - 2024 Year Long Program Certification in Comics at Sequential Artist Workshop. Her work as a comic artist is featured in the 2024 Sequential Artist Workshop anthology, Up to Code. 


Simi is in post-production as a production manager for the short film, “The Incredible Sensational Fiancée of Dr. Seyi Ajayi,” directed by Abbesi Akhami.


Simi is looking forward to strengthening her pottery practice and using creative coding and installation to create physical and digital spaces to enhance her stories.