Publish or Perish, 2009 / pine ply, steel, aluminum, ink on paper and chipboard
96 x 42 x 92 inches
Media
Artist Biography
Kiel Johnson's drawings and sculptures tell tales; layered narratives speak of his travels and adventures through everyday life. His works become a springboard for metaphorical investigations of the world he inhabits. Although both factual fictions and absurd scenarios, they are ultimately testaments to observation that force us to question the concrete and truthful. What at first might appear safe and secure will be, upon further inspection, very precarious.
Johnson (b. 1975, Missouri) received his MFA at California State University, Long Beach (CA). He has received prestigious awards and honors including the Pollock-Krasner Grant, Durfee Foundation ARC Grant, and the CSULB Outstanding Creative Achievement Award. He has had solo exhibitions at the Taubman Museum of Art (VA), Irvine Art Center (CA), and the Creative Artists Agency (CA), in addition to group inclusion at the McNay Museum (TX), Torrance Art Museum (CA), Huntington Beach Art Center (CA), and the University Art Museum, Long Beach (CA). His work appears in several important public and private collections including the Creative Artist Agency (CA), Tubert International (CA), Steve Martin Collection (NY), Todd Oldham (NY), and Sprint World Headquarters (MO). Johnson currently lives and works in Los Angeles, California.
For a full biography and curriculum vitae, please click the PDF download link below.
Selected Press
High Fructose - Artist Kiel Johnson and Crowd Sourced Cardboard Dancing Robots
Ted Active - Welcome to "The Sovereign Nation of You"
The Barnstable Patriot - You'll build this city
Los Angeles I'm Yours - Cypress Valley
Artforum - "paperless" review
The Press - A child's vision for the rebuild
Huffington Post - Paper City: Kiel Johnson Crafts Tiny Cityscapes of Cardboard
Frame - Paperless Exhibition at SECCA
TED Blog - Before TEDActive begins … it begins
ArtWeekLA - Obscured Lines: Contemporary Drawing in Los Angeles
eflux - Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art
Artlog - Four Artists To Know: Meet the Johnsons
New American Paintings - WE HAVE A PULSE
Daily du Jour - Kiel Johnson's 'Studies on an Airship Ride' @ PULSE LA
Statements 9 - Mark Moore Gallery
LA Canvas - Mark Moore Gallery: The Kids Are Alright
Visual Art Source - New Image Sculpture
Cypress Chronicle - "Robot Prom" Glances into Future Plans
Museum Magazine - Showcase
San Antonio Express - Artists Raise Questions With Everyday Items
McNay Art Museum - New Image Sculpture
21-7 Magazine - Kiel Johnson
Photoxels - Interview With Kiel Johnson, Creator of Cardboard Cameras
Vice - LISTEN HERE, BUSKER
Fecal Face Dot Com - Kiel Johnson Studio Visit
Hi-Frutose Magazine - Kiel Johnson's 8-bit Gary
The Escapist - 8-Bit Men Invade Real Life
BoingBoing - 8-bit costume
Art in America - Kiel Johnson
Industria Della Carta - Spirito Artigiano
Artillery - Featured Review
Los Angeles Times - Crafty with his craftsmanship
LA Weekly - Kiel Johnson: Publish or Perish
Flavorpill - Publish or Perish
ArtInfo - Kiel Johnson in Los Angeles
Hi-Fructose Magazine - Publish or Perish: Kiel Johnson
Metro Pop Magazine - Kiel Johnson
Metro Active - Material World
OC Register - "Ground Us" digs deep in Huntington Beach
Kansas City Star - Partners in mischief