Bohuslan Sweden, 2008
Based in Silicon Valley, Mitchell Johnson moved to California in 1990 after completing his MFA at Parsons School of Design in New York City. Johnson was heavily influenced by his NY teachers Paul Resika, Leland Bell, Larry Rivers, Robert DeNiro, Sr., John Heliker and Nell Blaine – many former students of Hans Hofmann. While Johnson’s paintings are sometimes compared to Bay Area legends Richard Diebenkorn, Wayne Thiebaud and David Park, his particular use of flat color and pattern more accurately aligns him with Paul Klee, Josef Albers, Vuillard and Giorgio Morandi. Johnson divides his time between his California studio and his favorite painting locations in Italy, France, Cape Cod and Denmark. His paintings can be found in over 600 collections including the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the New Mexico Museum of Art, the Frederick R. Weisman Museum at Pepperdine and the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, DC. Johnson’s work has been the subject of solo exhibitions in San Francisco, Los Angeles, St. Helena, Portland, New York, Washington, DC and Kansas City. Johnson’s paintings have appeared in ARTnews, Art in America and many feature films including The Holiday (2006), It’s Complicated (2009), and Crazy Stupid Love (2011). He is represented by I. Wolk Gallery, Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley, FilmArt LA and the Munson Gallery. All thirteen of his publications are for sale at Amazon.com.
EDUCATION Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, VA; B.S. 1986
-Studied with Ray Berry
Washington Studio School, Washington, D.C., 1987-88
-Studied with Jo Weiss, Lee Newman, Jack Boul and David Holt
Parsons School of Design, New York City; M.F.A. 1990
-Studied w/ Paul Resika, Leland Bell, John Heliker, Robert DeNiro, Sr., Nell Blaine
and Larry Rivers
Studio Assistant to Sam Francis, Palo Alto, CA, 1990-91
Santa Fe Institute of Fine Arts with Wolf Kahn, Santa Fe, NM, 1992
New York Studio School Drawing Marathon with Graham Nickson, 2000