Jackie K. Johnson

Jackie K. Johnson has a long tradition of using a variety of evocative, totemic forms and sophisticated color to delve into the twists and turns of life. Lures and Other Fragments, her latest exhibition, explores internal and external landscapes through vibrantly colored and densely composed imagery, inspired in part by the time she spends fishing on Oregon’s waterways. The mindset of fishing calls for patience and reflection, as well as detailed observation and quick action. Johnson’s paintings plumb these experiences, and are made of compositions within compositions, suggesting the layers of life above and below the water’s surface. Viewers can see waterways and papermills, schools of fish and industrial skylines, plus myriad ladders that serve as passageways and connecting points. Johnson notes that this series of work addresses more broadly the aspects of “chance and fortune,” and also seeks to organize the complexity of existing in the 21st century. Her use of vivid color and adroitly organized forms infuse her paintings with humor and vitality, inviting viewers in to explore their myriad layers and possibilities.