V. Joy Simmons, MD is an art collector and philanthropist who has supported the work of artists

of African descent and more broadly, of artists whose work is informed and inspired by Black

culture. Recognizing the importance of sustaining a healthy arts ecosystem, Dr. Simmons

mentors the next generation of art collectors and cultivates interest in supporting the networks of culture that sustain creativity. She has played a vital role in the establishment and growth of

various small to mid-size institutions that now help define Los Angeles’s vibrant cultural

landscape.

Having recently retired from a long career as a physician at Kaiser Permanente Los

Angeles Medical Center, served as the Senior Art and Exhibition Advisor for Destination

Crenshaw, a 1.3 mile public art corridor down Crenshaw Boulevard in Los Angeles.

She has been an active supporter of the Arts and diversity at Stanford where she served as a Trustee of the University. Dr. Simmons currently serves as a Commissioner of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and is on the Board of Directors of the California African American Museum.