Clay Johnson

United States  • 1965

Presentation

Clay Johnson is an American abstract painter whose reductivist compositions explore the relationships between color, form, and texture. He lives and works in Laramie, Wyoming.

Johnson earned his B.A. in studio art and art history from Duke University in 1985. Afterwards, he worked as studio manager for the painter Robert Natkin. Says Johnson, “Most of what I know about painting, I learned from Bob.”

The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives and drywall tools rather than brushes.” The scraping and sanding creates a variety of different textures and leads to the emergence of unexpected forms. Because of the intensity of his method, he prefers rigid surfaces, such as wood and aluminum panels, though he sometimes also works on paper and canvas stretched over panels. He prefers acrylic paint because of its fast drying time, which allows him to react quickly as the layers evolve towards a sense of completion.

Johnson has said he does not believe in inspiration. Instead, he believes in evolution. He is motivated by process. Rather than being planned ahead of time, the work emerges through a series of critical responses to previous decisions.

He begins each painting by taping off one or more horizon lines. His initial color choice then guides the composition forward. Certain elements—a color, a line, a texture—are destroyed, while other elements incite unimagined discoveries. His intuition is guided by visceral reactions to the physical qualities of paint, the quest for pictorial balance, and the emergence of abstract relationships. The most important part of this process is editing. As Johnson says, “that narrative—the story of the painting’s own making—becomes the central subject. It’s this process of trial and error— the flawed execution of a perfect concept—that can make a few lines and rectangles so compelling.”

Johnson has exhibited in numerous group and solo exhibitions throughout the United States. His work is in the collections of the Kimpton Corporation and the University of Wyoming Art Museum, among others.
Read more
All artworks of Clay Johnson
Painting, Untitled 557, Clay Johnson

Untitled 557

Clay Johnson

Painting - 18 x 15 inch

$1,712

Painting, Untitled (#705), Clay Johnson

Untitled (#705)

Clay Johnson

Painting - 20 x 16 inch

$1,844

Painting, Untitled (#706), Clay Johnson

Untitled (#706)

Clay Johnson

Painting - 20 x 16 inch

$1,844

Painting, Untitled (#704), Clay Johnson

Untitled (#704)

Clay Johnson

Painting - 16 x 20 inch

$1,844

Painting, Untitled 560, Clay Johnson

Untitled 560

Clay Johnson

Painting - 22 x 22 inch

$2,370

Painting, Untitled 559, Clay Johnson

Untitled 559

Clay Johnson

Painting - 22 x 22 inch

$2,370

Painting, Greek Painting #2, Clay Johnson

Greek Painting #2

Clay Johnson

Painting - 32 x 32 x 0 inch

$5,860

Painting, Greek Painting #1, Clay Johnson

Greek Painting #1

Clay Johnson

Painting - 32 x 32 x 0 inch

$5,860

Painting, Andrew’s Refrain, Clay Johnson

Andrew’s Refrain

Clay Johnson

Painting - 36 x 36 inch

$7,375

Painting, For Henry Hudson, Clay Johnson

For Henry Hudson

Clay Johnson

Painting - 48 x 48 inch

$10,667

Painting, The Royal, Clay Johnson

The Royal

Clay Johnson

Painting - 36 x 48 inch

$8,560

Painting, The Big Spill, Clay Johnson

The Big Spill

Clay Johnson

Painting - 36 x 36 inch

$7,375

Painting, Lorenzo’s Riddle, Clay Johnson

Lorenzo’s Riddle

Clay Johnson

Painting - 36 x 36 inch

$7,375

Painting, After Midnight, Clay Johnson

After Midnight

Clay Johnson

Painting - 36 x 48 inch

$8,494

Painting, The Delegation, Clay Johnson

The Delegation

Clay Johnson

Painting - 60 x 60 inch

$15,868

Painting, Truce, Clay Johnson

Truce

Clay Johnson

Painting - 60 x 60 inch

$15,868

Painting, What I heard, Clay Johnson

What I heard

Clay Johnson

Painting - 48 x 48 inch

$10,601

Painting, The Admiral’s Wedding, Clay Johnson

The Admiral’s Wedding

Clay Johnson

Painting - 48 x 48 inch

$10,601

Painting, Southern Cycle, Clay Johnson

Southern Cycle

Clay Johnson

Painting - 60 x 48 inch

$12,708

Painting, Dillon's choice, Clay Johnson

Dillon's choice

Clay Johnson

Painting - 48 x 36 inch

$8,494

Painting, Untitled 565, Clay Johnson

Untitled 565

Clay Johnson

Painting - 22 x 30 inch

Sold

Painting, Orchard #2, Clay Johnson

Orchard #2

Clay Johnson

Painting - 24 x 24 inch

Sold

Painting, The Charred Sea, Clay Johnson

The Charred Sea

Clay Johnson

Painting - 36 x 36 inch

Sold

Painting, The Dig, Clay Johnson

The Dig

Clay Johnson

Painting - 48 x 60 inch

Sold

Discover our selections of works by artists

Need help finding your favorite? Consult our selection pages made for you.
Need to know more?

Who is the artist?

Clay Johnson is an American abstract painter whose reductivist compositions explore the relationships between color, form, and texture. He lives and works in Laramie, Wyoming.Johnson earned his B.A. in studio art and art history from Duke University in 1985. Afterwards, he worked as studio manager for the painter Robert Natkin. Says Johnson, “Most of what I know about painting, I learned from Bob.”The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives and drywall tools rather than brushes.” The scraping and sanding creates a variety of different textures and leads to the emergence of unexpected forms. Because of the intensity of his method, he prefers rigid surfaces, such as wood and aluminum panels, though he sometimes also works on paper and canvas stretched over panels. He prefers acrylic paint because of its fast drying time, which allows him to react quickly as the layers evolve towards a sense of completion.Johnson has said he does not believe in inspiration. Instead, he believes in evolution. He is motivated by process. Rather than being planned ahead of time, the work emerges through a series of critical responses to previous decisions. He begins each painting by taping off one or more horizon lines. His initial color choice then guides the composition forward. Certain elements—a color, a line, a texture—are destroyed, while other elements incite unimagined discoveries. His intuition is guided by visceral reactions to the physical qualities of paint, the quest for pictorial balance, and the emergence of abstract relationships. The most important part of this process is editing. As Johnson says, “that narrative—the story of the painting’s own making—becomes the central subject. It’s this process of trial and error— the flawed execution of a perfect concept—that can make a few lines and rectangles so compelling.”Johnson has exhibited in numerous group and solo exhibitions throughout the United States. His work is in the collections of the Kimpton Corporation and the University of Wyoming Art Museum, among others.

What are their 3 main works?

When was Clay Johnson born?

The year of birth of the artist is: 1965