Flea Street Restaurant in Menlo Park, California, is currently hosting an exhibition of the captivating work of Bay Area artist Mitchell Johnson. Running from January 10 to February 15, the show titled Paintings from Maine, Italy, Newfoundland, and San Francisco showcases Johnson’s recent paintings that delve into color, perception, familiarity, and scale.
Johnson’s art straddles the line between representation and abstraction, featuring elements like bridges, icebergs, lifeguard chairs, skyscrapers, and iconic views. Through his work, he explores the act of seeing and expresses his deep appreciation for art history.
Renowned art historian Alexander Nemerov penned an essay in 2014, titled “Heir of Theirs: Mitchell Johnson and Fairfield Porter,” for the monograph Color as Content. Nemerov eloquently describes Johnson’s paintings as a quiet and intense transit through the works of artists like Pierre Bonnard, Edouard Vuillard, Giorgio Morandi, and Josef Albers.
Johnson’s art seamlessly fuses abstraction and realism, creating a unique visual language that speaks to the viewer on multiple levels. His strong colors are contained within his constructivist compositions, evoking unconscious emotions and art-historical references that enrich the viewer’s experience.
Johnson’s paintings have garnered critical acclaim and are featured in the collections of over 35 museums. They have also been showcased in prestigious publications like the New York Times Magazine, the New Yorker, and WSJ Magazine. Additionally, Johnson’s art has made appearances in popular films such as The Holiday (2006) and Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011).
For more information about Mitchell Johnson and his work, visit mitchelljohnson.com and follow him on Instagram at @mitchell_johnson_artist.
