Emma Johnson
United States
http://emmalovesparis.blogspot.com/
category: Painting
technique: Oilpainting
Style: Minimal / Concept-Art
Statement:
My work draws attention to idiosyncratic things in the world. By examining mundane situations, I encourage viewers to reconsider ironies found in every day life. While I suggest a point of view, ideally my work simply poses questions for the viewer. I select subjects and themes that I connect with personally, such as loneliness and awkwardness, but that are archetypal in nature. I explore the ways societal values dictate certain behaviors in individuals as well as how individuals can subvert socially codified behaviors regarding gender, class and culture. In particular, I’m interested in examining how geography affects people; my experiences living in the Midwest, the East Coast and Europe have heavily influenced my work.
Although the ideas behind my art are often complex, the work itself often has a childlike aesthetic, with bright complex colors. Although children are associated with vibrant colors, I don’t use primary colors, so the work contains a subtle complexity. The naiveté is intended to make viewers feel safe and let down their guard as it pulls them into the work. Its content, however, explores complex ideas that are both sad and humorous. The comfort the viewer experiences at first is replaced with conflict and tension, but cheerful colors make the content easier to digest.
The materials I choose lend themselves to the specific project. My current work is influenced by the book Relational Aesthetics. Exploring art that interacts with viewers in public spaces, I’m collecting people’s drawings from places they have been. In the process, they tell me stories about the pictures they’re drawing. For another project, I am combining text with pictures I took in Paris. Written stories complement the photographs’ narratives by complicating the viewers’ assumptions of the image.
Bio / Resumee / Statement:
EDUCATION
University of Minnesota; BA, English
Spring 2006--Fall 2008
*Fluent in German, as per LPE, 1/16/09
Rutgers University; National Student Exchange
Fall 2007--Spring 2008
Minneapolis College of Art and Design; BFA, Painting and Photography
Fall 2000--Spring 2005
Cari-DeWall Obst Uptown Association Scholarship, 2002-2004
Parsons Paris School of Art and Design; Study Abroad, Fall 2002
• Alden B. Dow Museum of Science & Art, 2010
• Creative 360, Midland, Michigan, 2009
• Repaired Things, curated by Anne Percoco (online), 2009
• Learning To Love You More, curated by Miranda July and Harrell Fletcher (online) 2008
• Minnesota Center for Photography, Minneapolis, 2005
• The Soap Factory, Minneapolis, 2004, 2005
• Minneapolis College of Art and Design, 2000—2005
• Sound Unseen/Radio MCAD/Minneapolis College of Art and Design, 2004
• Students In Design/Minneapolis College of Art and Design, 2004
• Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2004
• The Fallout Gallery, Minneapolis, 2004
• Soo Visual Arts Center at the Fine Line Music Café, Minneapolis, 2003
• Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day, (online) 2003
• Avantika Bawa, “Carry on Drawing Group Show,” (traveling exhibition) Savannah, GA; Madison, WI; Minneapolis, MN; Pullman, WA; the Badlands, India; Boroda, India; Mumbai, India; New Delhi, India; Toronto, Canada; San Diego, CA) 2002-05.
• Parsons School of Design, Paris, France, 2002
Activities:
interactive and graphic design, film/video, animation, color photography, painting, drawing, screenprinting, violin, guitar, singing/songwriting, screenwriting, poetry, acting, reading, movies, philosophy, psychology, fashion, travel, law/economics/politics
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Untitled NYC #80
Photography
Fine-Art-Print
15 x 10 cm
2008
for sale (ask for price)
more information
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Untitled NYC #3
Photography
Fine-Art-Print
10 x 15 cm
2008
for sale (ask for price)
more information
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Paris Carasel
Photography
Fine-Art-Print
35 x 27 cm
2005
not for sale
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Girl With Lipstick
Print
12 x 7 cm
2002
not for sale
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Eyelash Curlers
Print
Fine-Art-Print
480 x 78 cm
2003
for sale (ask for price)
more information
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Cake Painting 1
Painting
Oilpainting
60 x 44 x 3 cm
2004
sold
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This is Exactly Where I Thought I Would Be...
Photography
Fine-Art-Print
51 x 61 cm
2005
not for sale
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Bowling
Drawing
Pencil
1 x 1 x 1 cm
2002
not for sale
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The Widow
Painting
Oilpainting
95 x 41 x 3 cm
2003
not for sale
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NJ/NYC Train
Media
Computer art
43 x 28 cm
2008
not for sale
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Pregnant Fantasy 2
Photography
Fine-Art-Print
61 x 51 cm
2005
not for sale
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What Would You do if they Attached a Violinist...
Photography
Fine-Art-Print
51 x 61 cm
2005
not for sale
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Closet
Drawing
Pastel
95 x 126 cm
2003
not for sale
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Midland Community Orchestra poster
Media
MultiMedia
27 x 21 cm
2009
not for sale
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Water Under the Bridge
Print
10 x 10 cm
2003
for sale (ask for price)
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Target Bag
Painting
Oilpainting
51 x 61 x 3 cm
2004
sold
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Redcrosse and Una
Print
Fine-Art-Print
10 x 15 cm
2009
for sale (ask for price)
more information
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Redcrosse
Print
Fine-Art-Print
15 x 10 cm
2009
for sale (ask for price)
more information
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