To address the limitations of poor environmental adaptability, unsatisfactory bit-error performance, and high complexity of conventional antenna selection algorithms applied to a multi-array visible-light optical generalized spatial multiplexing–multiple-input multiple-output (OGSMP-MIMO) system, an OGSMP-MIMO system based on Pearson coefficient antenna selection is proposed. The algorithm adopts the correlation of Pearson coefficients among photoelectric detector (PD) terminals at different positions and active transmit antennas to select the optimal antenna combination without relying on the accuracy of channel estimation, for realizing the multiplexing of the time and space domains, and to improve the bit-error performance. Finally, experiments were conducted to verify the feasibility of the antenna selection algorithm, based on the Pearson coefficients. The results indicated that when the bit-error rate reached 10−6, using the antenna selection algorithm based on the Pearson coefficient, the signal-to-noise ratio was improved by 2.7 dB and 3.7 dB when compared with the norm-based antenna and random selection algorithms, respectively. In addition, increasing the number of active transmitting antennas can improve the transmission rate; however, the bit-error performance will be compromised. In the same modulation mode, increasing the number of transmitting antennas will reduce the bit-error performance.