Jackie K. Johnson

Portland based artist Jackie K. Johnson has a long tradition of using a variety of evocative forms and sophisticated color to delve into the twists and turns of life. Johnson’s paintings reflect on both the world in which she lives and the act of painting itself. Her latest exhibition continues an exploration of urban and natural forms presented in vibrantly colored and densely composed imagery, merging representation and abstraction, reflecting on motion and stillness. Compositions experiment with a variety of spatial juxtapositions, including linear and aerial perspective, to present views of familiar imagery, including ladders, fish and lures, industrial skylines and waterways, bouquets and more. Each painting is inspired by places, objects, and experiences in Johnson's own life, infusing the work with warmth and vitality. Johnson's use of complex layers, compositions within compositions, and vivid color relationships animate her paintings and provide endless avenues for the imagination to explore.