Troy L Johnson
There are painters who transform the sun to a yellow spot, but there are others who with the help of their art and their intelligence transform a yellow spot into the sun.
Pablo Picasso (1881- 1973 )
When viewing one of Troy L Johnson’s paintings, one is overwhelmed by the sheer energy of color and image. Every imaginable red, flirts with cadmium yellows, cerulean blues, warm greens and various shades of sienna’s. Johnson’s paintings are intense with daring colors, texture and high emotion; yet, it is the intimacy of his work that, almost invariably, catches the viewer off-guard. In Broken Dreams, we first sense the strength of a young boy’s character and the conflict that invades him, and with the stroke of the brush, his vulnerability is exposed. He challenges us to acknowledge and embrace his characters; he challenges us to relate to and understand. Johnson does not paint for the passive viewer. Propelling his spectators into a colorful new world, Johnson offers us a brief respite from our own monochromatic and often mundane lives.
Troy L Johnson was introduced to drawing at the age of eight. A native of Philadelphia, his training took place within the Fine Art Program at Overbrook High School. After receiving an undergraduate degree in Industrial Design from Carnegie Mellon University in 1992, Johnson went on the earn a Master of Fine Arts degree from Howard University in 1996.
Johnson work has been exhibited at the Studio Museum of Harlem in New York, Black Romantic Show. His work has also been displayed in various galleries throughout the USA. Most notably, Johnson has exhibited at the Strathmore Gallery in Maryland and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd annual Congressional Black Caucus in Washington D. C. He has also exhibited his work at the Tilford Art gallery in Los Angeles California.
Johnson was a teacher for three years in Philadelphia at the prestigious High School for the Creative and Performing Arts where he helped to cultivate the talent of young art students. Johnson currently lives in Los Angeles were he continues to paint and grow as an artist.
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