Bio
I am interested in an approach to art making that explores the often-conflicted relationship between the decorative traditions in geometric patterns found in other cultures and western modernism. However, the recent paintings avoid culturally specific subject matter in favor of a more elusive pictorial terrain of contemporary abstraction, inasmuch, my attempts to reflect a broader generational curiosity where the familiar and unfamiliar converge. There is a view about art that seems intractably fixed in tradition and history. However, counter to this view is another mindset that understands art very differently. This way of seeing works of contemporary art is not so much new as simply different. As a catalyst for the imagination, speculation and unscripted modes of knowing, I find art to be extremely useful and necessary to the health and well being of society. However, as we know, health is a relative term based on whether we experience it ourselves as good, moderate or failing. The relationship between our spiritual well being, physical bodies and our state of mind is paramount – so it should be with our approach to art. Chuck Johnson: Education and Honors MFA (Painting and Art History), Memphis State University, 1977 BFA (Painting and Drawing), Memphis State University, 1975 Honors Grant for Painting, District of Columbia Arts Commission, 1995 Painting Award, Arlington Art Center Annual Juried Exhibition, Arlington, VA, 1987 Painting Award, Creativity 86, Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, IL, 1986 Best in Show & Purchase Award, Germantown Art League Juried Exhibition, Germantown, TN, 1980 2nd Place Purchase Award, Germantown Art League Juried Exhibition, Germantown, TN, 1978 Chuck Johnson: Selected Exhibitions The 35th Parallel, solo, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN 2020 Kick Out the Lights: A Celebration of Memphis Music, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2019 Grand Reopening Celebration, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2019 Gallery Opening, The CLTV, Memphis, TN 2019 The Show Must Go On, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2018 Under a Midnight Rainbow, duo, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2018 Signals, solo, Christian Brothers University, Memphis, TN, 2017 New Works, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2017 The Black Experience, Orange Mound Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2017 Holiday Group Exhibition, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2016 Summer Group Exhibition, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2016 The Man Show, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2016 No: 10 Anniversary Show, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2016 Paradise Found, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2015 Holiday Group Exhibition, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2011-2014 Summer Group Exhibition, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2013-2014 Suddenly This Summer, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2013 Present Tense, Dixon Gallery & Gardens, Memphis, TN, 2013 Works on Paper, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2012/2010/2009 Summer Group Exhibition, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2011 Above Ground, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2011 Holiday Group Exhibition, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2009 Group Show, Perry Nicole Fine Art, Memphis, TN, 2008 Germantown Performing Art Center, Germantown, TN, 2008 Tribute to Richard Wright, JoySmith Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2008 Aspects of Love (Invitational), University of the District of Columbia, Washington, DC, 2007 The JoySmith Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2006 The Red Show, Perry Nicole Fine Art, Memphis, TN, 2006 Perry Nicole Fine Art, Memphis, TN, 2005 Five Memphis Artists, The JoySmith Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2005 Those Who Teach, Seven Memphis Artists, Delta Axis/Marshal Arts, Memphis, TN, 2005 Summer Group Show, Jay Etkins Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2003 The Project Space, Washington, DC, 1998 Tools as Art II, Smithsonian National Building Museum, Washington, DC, 1997 Vision of My People, Tennessee State Museum, Nashville, 1997 Willow Street Gallery, Takoma Park, MD, 1995 Five Washington Artists, The Fifth Column, Washington, DC, 1995 Painting 91, Arlington Art Center, Arlington, VA, 1991 Open Exhibition 1989, Fairfax County Judicial Center, Fairfax, VA, 1989 Atlanta Life National Juried Annual Exhibition, Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA, 1989 The Athenaeum, Northern Virginia Fine Art Association and AT&T, Alexandria, VA, 1988 Aaron Gallery, Washington, DC, 1987 New Talent, Addison/Ripley Gallery, Washington, DC, 1987 Members Juried Exhibition, Arlington Art Center, Arlington, VA, 1986 Chuck Johnson: Public Collections Lupton Company, Chattanooga, TN The City of Memphis Department of the Navy, Pentagon, Washington, DC The Hechinger Collection State Department’s Art in the Embassies Program |