Kiel Johnson

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Publish or Perish, 2009 / pine ply, steel, aluminum, ink on paper and chipboard
96 x 42 x 92 inches


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.

Exhibitions


Cordy Ryman & Kiel Johnson

Cordy Ryman & Kiel Johnson

Jul 16 – Aug 26, 2011

"OPEN"

"OPEN"

Jan 8 – Feb 12, 2011

Kiel Johnson

Kiel Johnson

Oct 17 – Nov 14, 2009

Kiel Johnson

Kiel Johnson

May 17 – Jun 21, 2008


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