Urban Lens Gallery DTLA

Jesse
Treylon Simmons

Jesse Treylon Simmons is a self-taught documentary street photographer born in 1981 in South Central and raised in West Adams, Los Angeles. Jesse’s photographic journey began in 2010 while managing a club crawl in Hollywood. 

He developed a knack for capturing portraits using the company’s camera. His passion for photography deepened, leading him to start his own part-time business in 2015, focusing on portraits and family photos over the weekends.

In 2019, after fifteen years in the medical field, Jesse fully committed to his passion and left his full-time job to pursue photography. The pandemic in 2020 shifted his focus towards solo photo walks and capturing city life from the front seat of his car, a unique perspective that defines his work.

Influenced by iconic photographers like Jamel Shabazz, Lee Friedlander, and Gordon Parks, Jesse aims to capture the essence and beauty of everyday life in Los Angeles. His work often tells the stories of his community through cityscapes and candid shots taken from his car.

Jesse’s photographs have been featured in numerous local exhibitions, including at Hands Up Gallery LA, Art Share LA, and the 2 Live and Dies in LA Art Festival. His work has also graced the cover of Our Weekly LA.

Jesse is currently immersed in a profound project titled “Saddest Day on Slauson.” This project documents his experiences during the funeral procession of the late Nipsey Hussle. Inspired by the raw, unscripted moments around him and driven by a “Mamba Mentality” of continuous self-improvement, Jesse lives daily, striving to be a better version of himself. He is guided by Nipsey Hussle’s words, “The highest human act is to inspire,” aiming to inspire others through his lens and life.