Lynn Johnson’s paintings are a dialogue between the abstract and the representational. Working with a variety of materials—predominantly oils, but also pigments, graphite, charcoal, spray paint, and occasional elements of collage or image transfer—she explores mark making through intuitive and spontaneous gestures. Her practice embraces gestural movements and physical engagement with the canvas, often applying, scraping, pouring, or moving paint directly with her hands.
Floral forms are at the heart of her work, sometimes recognisably so, other times more abstract. She favours a limited palette and large canvases with equally large brushes, allowing shapes and forms to emerge and recede as her subjects take shape. Her process is bold and physical rather than delicate, giving her paintings a raw and expressive presence.
Born in the United States, Johnson received her BFA from Iowa State University College of Art & Design and spent several years working in graphic design. A move from the mountain west to Georgia in 2000 marked a turning point, when she managed a respected art gallery in Atlanta. Immersed in a vibrant art community, she found encouragement to pursue her own painting, leading to her professional career as an artist in 2010.
Her work has since been exhibited in galleries throughout the US, with paintings held in corporate and private collections across the US and Europe. Collectors and gallerists have described her paintings as calming and serene, achieving a distinctive balance that resonates with both masculine and feminine audiences.
The Art Agency show Lynn's work exclusively in the UK.
