Pedestrians II
Oil on Canvas
64h x 76w in.
For more than two decades, Geoffrey Johnson has mesmerized viewers with his quietly introspective paintings that capture the mood and character of the contemporary urban landscape as well as timeless interiors. Using an impressionistic style, Johnson’s work lies in that seductive space between realism and abstraction. Much like Hopper before him, Johnson’s paintings evoke the isolation and loneliness of the big city. Or the moodiness of a private space.
Johnson’s style has resulted in powerful imagery which offers little details to figure and form. Drawn to New York City for the many recognizable architectural landmarks it offers, Johnson “(wants) to show people juxtaposed with the architecture, and create different moods and feelings for each piece.” When painting his trademark urban landscapes, he tends towards a monochromatic approach to recreate the feeling of anonymity in the city. The limited palette “is a result of how I see it and I don’t think these scenes call for color. I keep the figures silhouetted and the architecture limited as well because the paintingsare not about those things. They are more based on the feelings one gets from the city. The limited or lack of color is all they call for.”
Johnson has also “always been attracted to interiors, work spaces ….. personal spaces,” where he can experiment with brighter colors and the detail and beauty of historic homes. Inspired by a box of sepia toned photographs found in an attic, the artist has created many sepia toned interior scenes, as well ones “where I used quite a bit of color…….it is a nice breakaway, temporarily to get away from the monochromatic palette.”
For Johnson, “each painting is 1000 different decisions, thoughts and feelings.” The result becomes timeless scenes “dancing on the water of abstraction or of just being.”
1965 Born in Greensboro, North Carolina
1993 Graduate, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2020 Principle Gallery, Alexandria, Virginia
2019 Hubert Gallery, New York City
Principle Gallery, Alexandria, Virginia
2018 Hubert Gallery, New York City
Principle Gallery, Alexandria, Virginia
2017 Hubert Gallery, New York City
Principle Gallery, Alexandria, Virginia
2016 Hubert Gallery, New York City
Principle Gallery, Alexandria, Virginia
2015 Hubert Gallery, New York City
2014 Hubert Gallery, New York City
2013 Hubert Gallery, New York City
Principle Gallery, Alexandria, Virginia
2012 Hubert Gallery, New York City
Principle Gallery, Alexandria, Virginia
2011 Hubert Gallery, New York City
2010 Hubert Gallery, New York City
2009 Hubert Gallery, New York City
Shain Fine Art, Charlotte, North Carolina
Principle Gallery, Alexandria, Virginia
2008 Hubert Gallery, New York City
Shain Fine Art, Charlotte, North Carolina
Principle Gallery, Alexandria, Virginia
2007 Hubert Gallery, New York City
Shain Fine Art, Charlotte, North Carolina
Principle Gallery, Alexandria, Virginia
2006 Hubert Gallery, New York City
Shain Fine Art, Charlotte, North Carolina
Principle Gallery, Alexandria, Virginia
2005 Hubert Gallery, New York City
Shain Fine Art, Charlotte, North Carolina
2004 Hubert Gallery, New York City
Lagerquist Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
2003 Hubert Gallery, New York City
2002 Hubert Gallery, New York City
Shain Fine Art, Charlotte, North Carolina
2001 Brenau University, Gainesville, Georgia
Lagerquist Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
2000 Shain Fine Art, Charlotte, North Carolina
1999 Lagerquist Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
1998 Atlanta Financial Center, Atlanta, Georgia
Shain Fine Art, Charlotte, North Carolina
1997 Union Theological Seminary, New York City
Lagerquist Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
1996 The Masters Studio, Pasadena, California
1993 Compton Gallery, Greensboro, North Carolina
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2014 Principle Gallery, Alexandria, Virginia
2012 Principle Gallery, Alexandria, Virginia
2011 Boston International Fine Arts Show
2010 Principle Gallery, Alexandria, Virginia
Boston International Fine Arts Show
2006 Boston International Fine Arts Show
2005 Salon d’ Arts, Denver, Colorado
2004 Salon d’ Arts, Denver, Colorado
2001 Hubert Gallery, New York City
2000 Hubert Gallery, New York City
1999 Hubert Gallery, New York City
1998 Hubert Gallery, New York City
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Montgomery, Alabama
1997 Hubert Gallery, New York City
1996 Perry House Galleries, Alexandria, Virginia
1995 Lagerquist Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
1989 Fayetteville Museum ofArt, Fayetteville, North Carolina
COLLECTIONS
Brenau University, Gainesville, Georgia
Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Coca Cola Family Collection, Atlanta, Georgia
Turner Broadcasting, Atlanta, Georgia
BellSouth Corporate, Atlanta, Georgia
Rohm & Haas, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Erskin College, Columbia, South Carolina
AWARDS
NC Watercolor Society Annual Award, Fayetteville Museum of Art, 1988
Campbell Soup Company Scholarship, 1990
Pennsylvania Academy, Purchase Prize, 1992
Pennsylvania Academy, Philadelphia Water Color Club Purchase, 1993
Pennsylvania Academy, Purchase Prize, 1993
