Renowned artist Mitchell Johnson is set to showcase his small paintings at Galerie Mercier in Paris from May 20–24, 2025. The exhibition will feature a collection of intimate works inspired by various locations such as San Francisco, Paris, Newfoundland, Ventimiglia, and New York City.
Johnson, who has been painting in France since 1989, brings a unique perspective to familiar scenes through his use of color and scale. The 12 paintings on display at Galerie Mercier offer a glimpse into the artist’s creative evolution over the past seven years.
Known for his deep appreciation of art history, Johnson’s work is a reflection of his influences and creative process. In his own words:
“It’s a bit ironic that people have come to know my paintings through reproductions—on social media, in films, and on television in Italy, Monaco, and France — because the subject of my paintings is painting. I’m focused on color, composition, and scale — the act of seeing, the act of painting. Experiencing the work in person matters. Paintings viewed on Instagram are visual hearsay, visual rumors.”
“At both Galerie Mercier and 425 Market Street in San Francisco, people can see for themselves that I’m less a realist than a composer. Assembling shapes, colors and textures that strike me as mysterious and complex is an ongoing challenge. The decisions to include or remove elements are made intuitively. Including the Golden Gate Bridge in a painting feels dangerous. I’m certainly not the first to do it — all of the artists I revere have: Fairfield Porter, Matisse, Corot, Vallotton.”
“While my work draws heavily on French art history, as well as Josef Albers and Giorgio Morandi, it was the photographs of William Eggleston that set me on my current path. I saw his major exhibition at Haus der Kunst in Munich in 2009, just as my work was becoming more conceptual — less about capturing a specific place or time of day. Eggleston opened my eyes to the possibility of working with lifeguard chairs, icebergs, water towers, row boats, rooftops, bridges.”
“I met Eggleston once in Palo Alto and told him how important his work was to me — and that I believed he had been deeply influenced by French painters. A big smile spread across his face.”
Johnson’s paintings have found a home in the permanent collections of over 35 museums. His exhibition, Giant Paintings From New England, California and Newfoundland, is currently on display at 425 Market Street, San Francisco, until May 30. Following this, his work will be featured in group shows at the Glass House in New Canaan, Connecticut, and the Cape Cod Museum of Art in Dennis, Massachusetts in June.
Art enthusiasts can meet Mitchell Johnson at the closing reception of his exhibition at Galerie Mercier on Saturday, May 24, from 4–6pm (40 rue de l’Université 75007 Paris).
For more information, visit mitchelljohnson.com and follow him on Instagram at @mitchell_johnson_artist.
