David Edward Johnson – Circle Foundation for the Arts

What themes does your work involve?

I am most interested in exploring belief systems, the birth and death of the American Dream, the nature and validity of desire, as well as identity and loss on a personal level. Visually, my work lies at the intersection of the organic, the geometric, the iconic, the abstract, and the found. All of that takes shape into mostly large-scale assemblage pieces that hover in between mediums. I feel like my body of work can be encapsulated in three words :: abstraction, definition and deconstruction.

Describe your creative process.

I think thematically. I like provocative, meaty subjects that I can explore across a range of works. Often, I decide on a direction and then let it germinate, only doing initial sketching for a while. As that coalesces into something more concrete, I begin to research and gather materials. For the frequently maximalist, highly layered creations I make, research and "foraging" for authentic elements can take weeks. I maintain a huge library of materials, but I always acquire custom elements for each series I create. Then, I start to paint. It always begins with a layered, mixed media abstract piece. Fully formed abstract-expressionism. From there, I begin to layer and build, letting the piece guide me as it takes shape. I balance color, form, texture and image carefully within each work.

What influences your work? What inspires you? Why do you make art?

Visually, I am moved by the work of the mid-century period. Artists like Robert Rauschenberg, James Rosenquist, Cy Twombly, and Max Beckmann. That is my jumping off point in many ways, but a more modern sensibility shapes it from there. The world I grew up in, from the early 1970s to the present, has a stranglehold on my mind. Everything from the world of consumption and advertising, to the rhythms and art of the streets, to the effects of digital fragmentation and future shock. It's all in there.

What are your goals and plans as an artist in 2023?

In 2023, I want to continue to grow. To open minds. To remind. To disrupt. Yes, I also have plans to show my work at shows multiple places in the US, continue to discover talent and build my network. But aren't we all doing that in the business of art?

How do recent advancements in technology affect your art practice? How may recent developments in Artificial Intelligence (image generator software) affect the definition of fine art?

I use some digital methods to produce sketches, photo manipulations, large-format prints, short films, and even some digital pieces. I prefer to have them rooted in something tactile, though. The vast majority of my work is very physical, cut and created by hand. I love the sense of ""working without a net"" that it provides. That doesn't mean that the digital world can't touch my practice, though. It just means it does so in very specific ways. I do not, however use AI in my practice at all. Like anything, it will find its place. Not to sound trite, but I do think the differentiator is soul. It's not to say that the work generated by AI platforms can't be visually appealing, but there does seem to be a lot of ""sameness"" and a lack of authenticity to it so far. Very little soul.

What is the role of the artist today?

I can only speak to how I feel about my own role. I think my job as an artist is to question, to illumine, and to break the frames of conventionality. For me, it's all on the table.

What is good art? What makes a piece of art great?

I think great art forms a bridge, spanning the gulf between the familiar and the unexpected. It provides new perspectives and redefines our world. It moves and inspires.