Artists

Damon Johnson

Damon Johnson was born in New York City in 1978 and educated at New York University. His unique form of painting has clearly been influenced by his urban surroundings. Johnson's first experience with painting consisted of writing graffiti as a youth, he later moved on to canvases. Blending graffiti, comic book art, abstract expressionism, and hand painted digital pixelization Johnson's work is referred to as 'Urban Surrealism'. Painting from what inspired him in his youth to the energy that has surrounds New York, Johnson has achieved worldwide success and notoriety. He has shown in a wide variety of museums, and galleries, while staying true to his roots painting murals in nightclubs and various street projects with spray paint, wheat pasting ,and illegal signs. Johnson has received admiration from numerous media outlets such as Forbes, Gotham, Hamptons, and Zinc to name a few. Johnson currently resides in Manhattan with a studio in Bushwick Brooklyn

Selected Exhibitions/Projects (*Solo Shows)

2007   THE NEW YORK ART SHOW. Michael Murhy Gallery. Tampa Flordia

STREET MART. 18 Clinton. Lower East Side, New York.

ROCK OF AGES(MURAL). Retox Nightclub. Chelsea, New York.

2006    TOKYO BIG SKY FESTIVAL. Tokyo Big Sky. Tokyo. Japan

NATIONAL ARTS CLUB PRESENTS FORBES 'HOT' ARTIST DAMON JOHNSON*. National Arts Club. Manhattan, New York.

IDES OF MARCH*. Mark Murray Fine Arts. Manhattan, New York.

CANDY SHOP (MURAL). GO-GO Nightclub. Chelsea, New York.

NEW YORK TO HOLLYWOOD*. Pangea Nightclub, Seminole Hard Rock Casino, Hollywood, Flordia

2005   UNTAMED RETRIBUTION*. Mark Murray Fine Arts. Manhattan, New York.

BK ALL DAY*. Intersections Gallery Brooklyn. Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
Curated by Emmanuel

DIRELECT SURFACES*. Chelsea Art Museum Project Room. Chelsea, New York.
Curated by Baird Jones

STAR ART/DAMON JOHNSON*. Chelsea Art Museum Project Room. Chelsea, New York.
Curated by Nina Colosi

TO ALL THE LADIES IN THE PLACE WITH STYLE AND GRACE(MURAL). PINK ELEPHANT nightclub. Chelsea, New York.

ARTIST EXPRESSIONS, Replay Jeans, Soho, New York.
   Curated by Vinanzo Ciampa

MIXED MEDIA, Hamilton Museum, Hamilton New Jersey.
   Curated by Baird Jones.

I USED TO LOVE HER(MURAL), QUO nightclub, Chelsea, New York.

2004    KING OF NEW YORK (MURAL), ELEVEN Nightclub, Lower East Side, New York

CHEAP BOOZE AND LOOSE WOMAN (MURAL), NA Chelsea, New York
Curated by Noll Ashman

MIXED MEDIA, Paterson Museum, Paterson New Jersey.
Curated by Baird Jones.

2003   FRICTION, Route 85A, East Village, New York City.
   Curated by Damon Johnson.

   POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE, Galerie Lelong, Chelsea, New York City.
   Curated by Visual Aids

2002   COAL*, Brooklyn Sugar, Park Slope Brooklyn.
   Curated by Trauma 12 Inc.

   INTERNATIONAL DESIGN, Zakka, Soho, New York City.
   Curated by Zakka Corporation.

   WOOD BOARD/SIGN STREET PROJECT, Soho/East Village, New York City.

2001   EX-SPACE PROJECTS, Art is Superior Gallery, Lower East Side, New York City, Curated by Moko Moko.

   DATA ENTRY*, Rivertown Lounge, Lower East Side, New York City.

2000   MY LIFE, Rosenberg Gallery, East Village, New York City.
   Curated by Nancy Barton and Cody Choi.

   DAMON JOHNSON*, 205 Club, Lower East Side, New York City.

1999   WOOD BOARD/SIGN STREET PROJECT, Lower East Side/East Village, New York City.

1998   HOLIDAY SHOW, Printed Matter, Soho, New York City,

1997   TAILGATE, Parking Lot. Soho, New York City.
   Curated by Kirby Gookin
l

Education

Studio Art, New York University, New York City, B.A. 2000

Other Info

•   Created the first legal wall for graffiti in Westchester County
•   Wrote graffiti throughout Bronx, Westchester, and Connecticut under a.k.a. ICON/JEDI
•   Published in emerging artist book BROKE-IN.
•   Founded progressive clothing company Trauma 12. Art/Director and Designer
•   Created limited edition shirts for DigitalGravel.com and Zakka Inc.
•   Worked with designer Avia Alijan on a series of dresses made of painted canvas.
•   Designed Limited edition bottle label for Strong80 bourbon.

Back to artists