Mitchell Johnson, a prominent Bay Area artist, is kicking off the year 2026 with two exciting exhibitions in San Francisco. The first exhibition, titled “Large New England Landscapes (Selected Paintings 2008-2025),” is being showcased at 425 Market Street. This collection primarily features Johnson’s depictions of New England, with a focus on Cape Porpoise, Maine, and Cape Cod. The second exhibition, “Giant Abstract and Landscape Works (Selected Paintings 2012-2025),” can be viewed at 555 California Street. This exhibit includes 11 massive 78 x 120 inch canvases, including the newly unveiled “Race Point Bench” (2026) inspired by artists Giorgio de Chirico and Giorgio Morandi, as well as “Tokyo” (2012-2014) influenced by Johnson’s trips to Japan.
Renowned art critic Joan Ludman, known for her work on Fairfield Porter, has praised Johnson’s artistry in her 2014 monograph “Color as Content.” She commends Johnson’s use of color, pattern, and form, drawing parallels between his work and that of artists like Morandi, Albers, Bonnard, and Vuillard. Johnson himself has expressed his intention to combine Morandi’s composition skills with Albers’ color expertise.
In a recent article for Artscope Magazine, writer Lee Roscoe delves into Johnson’s unique approach to art. Roscoe notes that Johnson’s focus on color and shape suggests that these elements are more important than the actual subjects he paints. Despite this, Johnson’s paintings capture the essence of each location he depicts, whether it be European vistas, New York cityscapes, or San Francisco landscapes.
An article from 1997 in American Artist Magazine sheds light on Johnson’s artistic process. Johnson emphasizes the importance of every element in a painting contributing to its overall composition and color scheme. He pays close attention to color tension, texture, and placement, ensuring that each aspect works harmoniously within the artwork.
With paintings in 700 private collections and 40 museums, Johnson’s work has gained widespread acclaim. Two museum retrospectives have been dedicated to his art, highlighting his significant contributions to the art world. For those interested in experiencing Johnson’s artistry, an exhibition of his small paintings will be held at Galerie Mercier in Paris this March.
To learn more about Mitchell Johnson and his upcoming exhibitions, visit his website at mitchelljohnson.com and follow him on Instagram at @mitchell_johnson_artist. For a digital catalog, email mitchell.catalog@gmail.com.
Overall, Mitchell Johnson’s captivating large-scale paintings showcase his mastery of color, composition, and form, earning him a well-deserved place in the art world.
