Aaron Johnson, known for paintings of ethereal figures, grounds his practice in the tradition of Color Field painting. The artist begins his process by staining raw canvases with washes of color, allowing spontaneity to give way to dynamic compositions that connect with ideas of cosmic forces and the interconnectedness of all things. Born in St. Paul, MN and currently based in Los Angeles, CA, Johnson has exhibited work in galleries around the world, as well as institutions that include MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA; The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY; and La Térmica, Málaga. Additionally, his paintings can be found in the permanent collections of The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY; Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, Peekskill, NY; and Coleccion Solo, Madrid, Spain; among others.
Oh My Heart depicts two lovers who face and embrace one another in a blissful state. Set before a crisp, sky blue background, the duo appear to be carved out of color streams that radiate in a loosely concentric manner. As in many of Johnson's paintings, these figures appear simultaneously angelic and ghostly, inhabiting a magical, psychedelic dimension. A bird flies from one figure's heart towards another, while arcs of repeated eyes look towards a celestial body situated between their foreheads. The work tells of a love story between individuals whose shared connection with the forces of nature causes them to meld into a state of non-duality.
Aaron Johnson
Oh My Heart, 2024
24 x 22 inches
Archival pigment print
Limited edition of 25 with 5AP + 1PP
Signed and numbered by the artist
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