Eric Johnson

Biography:

Eric Johnson’s artwork and style has its own individual character. Expanding his use of dramatic texture, three dimensions and color, every piece searches the infinite planes of imaginative display. Never locking himself into a set mold, Johnson’s free flowing style and blending of paints can excite and soothe simultaneously as it probes one’s curiosity. In his latest work, a contemporary series of bas-reliefs, Johnson employ’s modern geometric imagery well known to man against raw primitive backgrounds of thick hand made paper. Artistically engineered, Johnson’s use of aluminum with mixed media constructions takes the viewer through a journey of beautiful and distinctive fusions of sculptural paintings. Each art piece signifies a classic and unified precision that is recognized worldwide as distinctively Eric C. Johnson. Each piece is intensely simple yet dramatic. Johnson successfully reaches and searches for that creativity which reflects his unique style, “An abstract experimental artist.”

Résumé:

PUBLICATIONS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS Using his experience from launching the spectacular Bridgeway Gallery in Sausalito, California in 1987 Eric Johnson put his talent and energy into creating the elegant and unique TRE’ Contemporary Art Gallery in Palm Desert, California in 2002. In 1993, for Sausalito’s Centennial Celebration, Johnson formulated and rallied one hundred Sausalito artists to create the Sausalito Centennial Mural. This mural’s image was also used for Sausalito’s 1993 Official Art Festival Poster. Johnson has chaired the Sausalito Art Commission and has served on the Board of Directors for the Sausalito Chamber of Commerce. In 1989, the Orange County Register featured President Carmelo Santaro of Silicon Systems with his sectional mural entitled,” Electronics the Birth of an Age,” commissioned for their corporate headquarters in Tustin, California. Johnson was commissioned the same year to create the poster and advertising for the “Whole Life Expo” in San Francisco, California. When Silicon Systems opened their new facility in Santa Cruz, California he was commissioned to create a two-story artwork for their lobby. In 1987 the 20/20 LTD/Visions Fine Art Catalog featured six of his works in progress. In 1983 Johnson executed a commissioned mural at the San Jose Convention Center, the progress of which was filmed and broadcast nightly by KNTV and KSBW News. Also in 1983 he made a special presentation at Future World Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center, in 1985 his artwork was again selected for the official poster for Future World Expo in San Francisco, California. In 1978 Eric Johnson owned and operated the successful Art About Gallery located in Santa Cruz and Capitola California. Johnson was instrumental in organizing and presenting local artists at numerous exhibitions in Santa Cruz and Capitola, California. Johnson’s work has appeared in The Artist Magazine, American Artist, Property, The Bay Area Reviewer, Los Gatos Weekly, American Art Collector, Highway 111, Art and Culture, Ocean Sports International and Palm Springs Life magazines. ERIC C. JOHNSON AWARDS AND RECOGNITION 2008 Distinguished Artist of La Quinta 2006 The Desert Sun Award 2006 Indian Wells, CA - First Place 2005 Sausalito, CA –Second Place 2002 Scottsdale, AZ –Sculpture Award 2001 Sausalito, CA – Mixed Media Award 2000 La Quinta Arts Festival, CA – First Place 1998 Santa Barbara, CA –Mixed Media Award 1998 Los Altos, CA – Mayors Choice Award 1996 Sausalito, CA – Second Place 1995 Capitola, CA – First Place 1993 Sausalito, CA – Outstanding Contribution Award 1992 Capitola, CA – Best of Show 1991 Beverly Hills, CA – First Place 1983 Capitola, CA – Best of Show 1983 Tempe, AZ –Watercolor Award 1983 Tempe, AZ – Best of Show 1983 San Jose Convention Center, CA – First Place 1982 Los Gatos, CA –First Place 1981 Rancho Del Mar, CA –First Place 1981 San Juan Bautista, CA –Second Place 1980 Aptos, CA – First Place 1979 Catalina Island, CA –First Place 1978 Aptos, CA – First Place 1977 North Miami Beach, FL – First Place 1976 Washington Square, NY –Watercolor Award 1975 Westhampton, NY – Watercolor Award PRIVATE AND CORPORATE COLLECTIONS Seagate Electronics – Santa Cruz, CA Silicon Systems – Tustin, CA Silicon Systems – Santa Cruz, CA Beaver State Bank – Portland, OR Royal Viking Lines – San Francisco, CA Nikko Hotels – Beverly Hills, CA Nikko Hotels – Chicago, IL Marriott Hotels – Sawgrass, FL Hayatt Regency Hotels – Albuquerque, NM Enterprise Mechanical – Sacramento, CA Los Gatos Weekly – Los Gatos, CA On Lok Senior Health – San Francisco, CA West America Bank – Sausalito, CA Senator Allan Short – Sacramento, CA Desert Lexus – Cathedral City, CA Chamber of Commerce – Sausalito, CA Mr. Allan & Mrs. Rita Shugart – Pebble Beach, CA Timothy Leary – Out There Somewhere! Collectors also from Germany, Japan, and Canada ERIC C. JOHNSON NOTABLE ONE MAN SHOWS 2008 “S.R. Brennen Gallery”, Palm Desert, California – “FUSION” works on aluminum with handmade paper 2008 “Eleonore Austerer Gallery”, Palm Desert, California - “CONTRASTS” works with aluminum 2004 “TRE’ Contemporary Gallery” Palm Desert, California - “PULP FICTION” an experience in handmade paper 1989 “The Bridgeway Gallery” Sausalito, California - “40 YEARS” a retrospective show– New York to California GALLERY REPRESENTATION S.R. Brennen Galleries, Scottsdale, Palm Desert, LaJolla 2008 - present Cohen Rese Gallery, San Francisco,CA 2000 – present Phoenix Gallery, Park City, UT 2005 – present Eleonore Austerer Gallery, Palm Desert,CA 2005 – 2008 Renee Taylor Gallery, Sedona,AZ 2005 – 2008 Savage Contemporary, Carmel, CA 1995 – 2006 Tre’ Contemporary, Palm Desert, CA 2002 – 2005 Gallery Blue, Palm Desert, CA 1997 – 2002 Bridgeway Gallery, Sausalito, CA 1987 – 1990 Art Center Gallery, Sausalito, CA 1992 – 1994 Swanson Art Gallery,San Francisco, CA 1981 – 1984 Art About Gallery, Santa Cruz, CA 1978 - 1982

Statement:

“An artist creates what’s going on around him, either subconsciously or consciously, it’s inescapable, that’s what I’m doing, what’s happening today.”