Chris Johanson
Overview
Chris Johanson, The self with (Topanga Canyon, L.A. Silver Lake, Echo Park, Topanga Beach, San Jose, Portland, Ashland, San Francisco), 2025
Chris Johanson (b. 1968) lives and works in Los Angeles, CA and Portland, OR. A central figure of San Francisco’s Mission School, the post-punk movement that integrated aspects of both graffiti and folk art, Johanson’s multidimensional practice encompasses painting, drawing, sculpture, design, and music. Incorporating disparate influences that underscore the complexity of life, his work is centered upon themes that include spirituality, sociology, and environmental observation. Johanson began working on figurative drawings and painting on skateboards at an early age. His compositions position themselves as conceptually open – they are fluid to interpretation and invite reflection on everyday life and the human condition.
Documents
Chris Johanson, The self with (Topanga Canyon, L.A. Silver Lake, Echo Park, Topanga Beach, San Jose, Portland, Ashland, San Francisco), 2025
Works
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Chris JohansonFinite/Continuum 1, 2024Acrylic on recycled canvas17 1/2 x 34 in
44.5 x 86.4 cm -
Chris JohansonUntitled, 2022Acrylic and household paint on canvas64 x 97 in
162.6 x 246.4 cm -
Chris JohansonUntitled, 2020Acrylic on canvas39 x 44 in
99.1 x 111.8 cm -
Chris JohansonSerenity Painting No. 2 (Birds, Sky), 2018Acrylic and house paint on canvas65 x 128 in
165.1 x 325.1 cm -
Chris JohansonSurvival through figurization (white), 2016Acrylic on found wood96 1/4 x 96 1/4 in
244.5 x 244.5 cm -
Chris JohansonLos Angeles Painting Number 1 of 2015, 2015Acrylic on found wood80 x 57 in
203.2 x 144.8 cm
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Chris JohansonFigurative Art in Los Angeles–Fall 2012, 2013Acrylic on paper16 1/2 x 23 1/4 in
41.9 x 59.1 cm
Framed: 21 3/8 x 27 3/8 x 1 1/2 in
54.3 x 69.5 x 3.8 cm -
Chris JohansonUntitled, 2013Acrylic on found wood17 1/2 x 20 in
44.5 x 50.8 cm -
Chris JohansonRestorative Moon Sculpture #1, 2011Acrylic and latex on wood69 1/2 x 48 x 49 1/2 in
176.53 x 121.92 x 125.73 cm -
Chris JohansonUntitled, 2002Acrylic on panel48 x 96 in
121.9 x 243.8 cm -
Chris JohansonUntitled (I Work Very Hard at Remaining Present...), 1999Acrylic on wood panel62 3/4 x 48 x 1/2 in
121.9 x 159.4 x 1.3 cm -
Chris JohansonUntitled (Man Falling from Sky), 1994Acrylic on paper in artist's recycled wood frame17 3/4 x 23 3/4 in
45.1 x 60.3 cm
Framed: 25 3/8 x 29 1/2 x 1 1/2 in
64.5 x 74.9 x 3.8 cm
Installation Views
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Chris Johanson
The Duct Tape Experimental Board Experience and Ocean Awareness Center, 2019
Installation view
Vans US Open of Surfing Duct Tape Invitational, 2019, Huntington Beach, CA
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Chris Johanson
Survival through figurization (white), 2016
Acrylic on found wood
Installation view
San Francisco International Airport, Harvey Milk Terminal 1, Boarding Area B
Collection of the City and County of San FranciscoPhotography by Ethan Kaplan
Courtesy of the San Francisco Arts Commission -
Chris Johanson and Johanna Jackson
Commissioned furniture for the Hammer Museum, 2014
Installation view
Hammer Museum, Los Angeles
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Chris Johanson
I Do Not Know But I am Open to Learning, 2013
Installation view
Project Los Altos: SFMOMA, Los Altos, CA -
Chris Johanson
Door Sculpture to Talk About the Idea of Different Possibilities You May Have to Process Your Life, 2013
Installation view
Project Los Altos: SFMOMA, Los Altos, CA -
Chris Johanson
Within the River of Time is My Mind, 2013
Installation view
MOCA, Los Angeles -
Chris Johanson
Totalities, 2008
Installation viewDeitch Projects, New York
Exhibitions
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FOG Design+Art 2025
Booth 305 Jan 23 - 26, 2025Read more -
Chris Johanson
Gallery 3 Sep 16 - Oct 21, 2023Read more -
Group exhibition curated by Chris Johanson
Nov 9 - Dec 17, 2022Read more -
Chris Johanson
Nov 3 - Dec 17, 2022Read more -
10-Year Anniversary Exhibition
(Benefitting Tipping Point Community) Apr 26 - May 4, 2019Altman Siegel is pleased to present our 10-year anniversary exhibition. To show our appreciation for the artists, institutions, and community members who have supported our programming, we’ve organized a weeklong...Read more -
Chris Johanson
Ruminations, Meditations and The Homeostasis Sep 6 - Oct 27, 2018Altman Siegel is pleased to present Ruminations, Meditations, and The Homeostasis , Chris Johanson's third solo exhibition at the gallery. For over twenty-five years, Johanson has been captivating audiences around...Read more -
Will and Be Going To
An inaugural exhibition of the gallery artists at our new location 1150 25th Street Nov 11 - Dec 17, 2016Read more -
Chris Johanson
Equations Nov 6 - Dec 19, 2015Altman Siegel is pleased to present Equations , Chris Johanson’s second solo exhibition with the gallery. This show is a continuation of the multifaceted artistic output Johanson calls Life Arts...Read more -
Art Basel Miami Beach 2013
Shannon Ebner, Chris Johanson Dec 4 - 8, 2013Read more -
Art Los Angeles Contemporary 2012
Chris Johanson, Will Rogan Jan 19 - 22, 2012Read more -
Chris Johanson
This, This, This, That Jun 3 - Jul 30, 2011This, This, This makes That You are in a body the body is on this planet and in the middle of space you think about that a lot Things happen...Read more -
Chris Johanson, Charley Harper & Matt Keegan
Jan 6 - Feb 5, 2011Altman Siegel is pleased to announce a special group show featuring the work of Chris Johanson, Charley Harper and Matt Keegan. This exhibition compares the process and technique of three...Read more
Press
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Contemporary Art Daily
Contemporary Art Daily, Nov 3, 2022 -
The New York Times Style Magazine
Oct 4, 2021 -
Office Magazine
Office Magazine, May 5, 2017 -
SFAQ
SFAQ, Nov 16, 2015 -
Artsy
Artsy, Jul 24, 2015 -
The New York Times
The New York Times, Apr 24, 2014 -
The Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times, Jun 27, 2013 -
Huffington Post
Huffington Post, May 31, 2013 -
Art in America
Art in America, Dec 26, 2012 -
Artforum
Artforum, Oct 1, 2012 -
Believer
Believer, Jan 1, 2012 -
Sculpture Magazine
Sculpture Magazine, Dec 1, 2009 -
Artforum
Artforum, Dec 1, 2008 -
LA Weekly
LA Weekly, Jun 9, 2006 -
The New York Times
The New York Times, Apr 20, 2003
Publications
