Jess Johnson’s drawing and installation practice is inspired by the speculative themes of science fiction, mythological cosmology and comic books. Her richly layered drawings often convey amplified psychological states; the wordplay and complex patterning an often humorous channelling of her own agitation and paranoia. Johnson’s installation environments and accompanying drawings depict a parallel world of geometric encryption and symbology. A conduit to those brief, phosphorescent moments of visionary divination and revelation.
Jess Johnson was born in New Zealand and is currently based in Melbourne. She completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Canterbury University, New Zealand, in 2001. Johnson has exhibited at public art institutions including the Museum of Contemporary Art, The National Gallery of Victoria, Ian Potter Museum of Art, Artspace (NZ), and Tate Modern (UK). In 2007 she exhibited at Utopian Slumps Collingwood with ‘This is not a Love Schlong’. From 2008-2011, she was the co-founder and co-director of Hell Gallery, which ran from her home in Richmond. Johnson is a Gertrude Contemporary studio artist from 2013 to 2014. Selected group and solo exhibitions include Melbourne Now, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, 2013-14; Future Primitive, curated by Linda Michael, Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne, 2013-14; Bloodfins & Whipwurm, Darren Knight Gallery, Sydney, 2013; Auckland Art Fair, Utopian Slumps, Auckland, 2013; and Primavera, curated by Robert Cook, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, 2013. Johnson will hold her next solo exhibition at Utopian Slumps in August 2014.
