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Clay Johnson Paintings

American, b. 1963
Clay Johnson is an American abstract painter whose reductivist compositions explore the relationships between color, form, and texture. He lives and works in Laramie, Wyoming. Johnson earned his B.A. in studio art and art history from Duke University in 1985. Afterwards, he worked as studio manager for the painter Robert Natkin. Says Johnson, “Most of what I know about painting I learned from Bob.” The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives and drywall tools rather than brushes.” Johnson has exhibited in numerous group and solo exhibitions throughout the United States. His work is in the collections of the Kimpton Corporation and the University of Wyoming Art Museum, among others. The scraping and sanding creates a variety of different textures and leads to the emergence of unexpected forms. Because of the intensity of his method he prefers rigid surfaces, such as wood and aluminum panels, though he sometimes also works on paper and canvas stretched over panels. He prefers acrylic paint because of its fast drying time, which allows him to react quickly as the layers evolve towards a sense of completion.
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Artist: Clay Johnson
Untitled (#706) (Abstract painting)
Untitled (#706) (Abstract painting)

Untitled (#706) (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

Untitled (#706) (Abstract painting) Acrylic on paper - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette kniv...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

Lorenzo’s Riddle (Abstract painting)
Lorenzo’s Riddle (Abstract painting)

Lorenzo’s Riddle (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

Lorenzo’s Riddle (Abstract painting) Acrylic on aluminum panel - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with pa...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Panel

The Delegation (Abstract painting)
The Delegation (Abstract painting)

The Delegation (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

The Delegation (Abstract painting) Acrylic on aluminum panel - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with pale...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Panel

Untitled 560 (Abstract painting)
Untitled 560 (Abstract painting)

Untitled 560 (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

Untitled 560 (Abstract painting) Acrylic on paper - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives ...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

Untitled 557 (Abstract painting)
Untitled 557 (Abstract painting)

Untitled 557 (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

Untitled 557 (Abstract painting) Acrylic on paper - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives ...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

Untitled 557 (Abstract painting)
Untitled 557 (Abstract painting)

Untitled 557 (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

Untitled 557 (Abstract painting) Acrylic on paper - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives ...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

Untitled 559 (Abstract painting)
Untitled 559 (Abstract painting)

Untitled 559 (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

Untitled 559 (Abstract painting) Acrylic on paper - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives ...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

Untitled 559 (Abstract painting)
Untitled 559 (Abstract painting)

Untitled 559 (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

Untitled 559 (Abstract painting) Acrylic on paper - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives ...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

Untitled (#705) (Abstract painting)
Untitled (#705) (Abstract painting)

Untitled (#705) (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

Untitled (#705) (Abstract painting) Acrylic on paper - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette kniv...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

Lorenzo’s Riddle (Abstract painting)
Lorenzo’s Riddle (Abstract painting)

Lorenzo’s Riddle (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

Lorenzo’s Riddle (Abstract painting) Acrylic on aluminum panel - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with pa...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Panel

What I heard (Abstract painting)
What I heard (Abstract painting)

What I heard (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

What I heard (Abstract painting) Acrylic on canvas - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Untitled 559 (Abstract painting)
Untitled 559 (Abstract painting)

Untitled 559 (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

Untitled 559 (Abstract painting) Acrylic on paper - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives ...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

What I heard (Abstract painting)
What I heard (Abstract painting)

What I heard (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

What I heard (Abstract painting) Acrylic on canvas - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

The Admiral’s Wedding (Abstract painting)
The Admiral’s Wedding (Abstract painting)

The Admiral’s Wedding (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

The Admiral’s Wedding (Abstract painting) Acrylic on canvas - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palet...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Untitled (#704) (Abstract painting)
Untitled (#704) (Abstract painting)

Untitled (#704) (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

Untitled (#704) (Abstract painting) Acrylic on paper - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette kniv...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Paper

Andrew’s Refrain (Abstract painting)
Andrew’s Refrain (Abstract painting)

Andrew’s Refrain (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

Andrew’s Refrain (Abstract painting) Acrylic on wood panel - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palett...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Panel, Wood Panel

For Henry Hudson (Abstract painting)
For Henry Hudson (Abstract painting)

For Henry Hudson (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

For Henry Hudson (Abstract painting) Acrylic on aluminum panel - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Panel

The Royal (Abstract painting)
The Royal (Abstract painting)

The Royal (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

The Royal (Abstract painting) Acrylic on aluminum panel - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette k...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Panel

The Big Spill (Abstract painting)
The Big Spill (Abstract painting)

The Big Spill (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

The Big Spill (Abstract painting) Acrylic on aluminum panel - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palet...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Panel

After Midnight (Abstract painting)
After Midnight (Abstract painting)

After Midnight (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

After Midnight (Abstract painting) Acrylic on aluminum panel - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Panel

Untitled 560 (Abstract painting)
Untitled 560 (Abstract painting)

Untitled 560 (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

Untitled 560 (Abstract painting) Acrylic on paper - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives ...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

Truce (Abstract painting)
Truce (Abstract painting)

Truce (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

Truce (Abstract painting) Acrylic on canvas - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives and d...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

The Admiral’s Wedding (Abstract painting)
The Admiral’s Wedding (Abstract painting)

The Admiral’s Wedding (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

The Admiral’s Wedding (Abstract painting) Acrylic on canvas - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palet...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

The Delegation (Abstract painting)
The Delegation (Abstract painting)

The Delegation (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

The Delegation (Abstract painting) Acrylic on aluminum panel - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with pale...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Panel

After Midnight (Abstract painting)
After Midnight (Abstract painting)

After Midnight (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

After Midnight (Abstract painting) Acrylic on aluminum panel - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Panel

Truce (Abstract painting)
Truce (Abstract painting)

Truce (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

Truce (Abstract painting) Acrylic on canvas - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives and d...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

The Delegation (Abstract painting)
The Delegation (Abstract painting)

The Delegation (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

The Delegation (Abstract painting) Acrylic on aluminum panel - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with pale...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Panel

After Midnight (Abstract painting)
After Midnight (Abstract painting)

After Midnight (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

Acrylic on aluminum panel - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives and drywall tools rather ...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Panel

Untitled 560 (Abstract painting)
Untitled 560 (Abstract painting)

Untitled 560 (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

Acrylic on paper - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives and drywall tools rather than brus...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

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Dillon's choice (Abstract painting)
Dillon's choice (Abstract painting)

Dillon's choice (Abstract painting)

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Located in London, GB

Dillon's choice (Abstract painting) Acrylic on linen - Unframed Clay Johnson is an American abstract painter whose reductivist compositions explore the relationships between color,...

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Linen, Acrylic

Dillon's choice (Abstract painting)
Dillon's choice (Abstract painting)

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Dillon's choice (Abstract painting)
Dillon's choice (Abstract painting)

Dillon's choice (Abstract painting)

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Acrylic on linen - Unframed Clay Johnson is an American abstract painter whose reductivist compositions explore the relationships between color, form, and texture. He lives and work...

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Untitled 565 (Abstract painting)
Untitled 565 (Abstract painting)

Untitled 565 (Abstract painting)

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

Acrylic on paper - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives and drywall tools rather than brus...

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2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

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Paper, Acrylic

Orchard #2
Orchard #2

Clay JohnsonOrchard #2, 2019

Sold

H 24.02 in W 24.02 in

Orchard #2

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

Acrylic on wood panel - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives and drywall tools rather than...

Category

2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Wood Panel

The Charred Sea
The Charred Sea

Clay JohnsonThe Charred Sea, 2020

Sold

H 36.01 in W 36.01 in

The Charred Sea

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

Acrylic on canvas - Unframed. The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives and drywall tools rather than bru...

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2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

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Canvas, Acrylic

Promenade #3

Promenade #3

By Clay Johnson

Located in Fairfield, CT

Clay Johnson was born and raised in Durham, NC, where he studied art and art history at Duke University, receiving a B.A. degree in 1985. He then worked for several years as assistan...

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2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

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The Dig
The Dig

Clay JohnsonThe Dig, 2018

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H 48 in W 60 in

The Dig

By Clay Johnson

Located in London, GB

Acrylic on wood panel - Unframed Clay Johnson is an American abstract painter whose reductivist compositions explore the relationships between color, form, and texture. He lives and...

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2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

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Note to Self #2

Note to Self #2

By Clay Johnson

Located in Fairfield, CT

Clay Johnson was born and raised in Durham, NC, where he studied art and art history at Duke University, receiving a B.A. degree in 1985. He then worked for several years as assistant to painter Robert Natkin in Connecticut and New York City. In 1998 he began exhibiting paintings from his first series of mature work, which was loosely grid-based, and was inspired by the paintings of Paul Klee, such as Ancient Sound. Since then Clay's work has been exhibited widely at galleries across the country. He began his current series of work shortly after relocating to Wyoming, and, while essentially non-objective, the paintings contain a sense of the wide open landscape of the American west. The new paintings can be seen at Elins Eagles-Smith Gallery in San Francisco, William Havu Gallery in Denver, and Pryor Fine Art...

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2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings

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Clay Johnson paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Clay Johnson paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of paintings to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Clay Johnson in acrylic paint, paint, synthetic resin paint and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the abstract style. Not every interior allows for large Clay Johnson paintings, so small editions measuring 16 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Deborah Bigeleisen, KOKO HOVAGUIMIAN, and Charles Eckart. Clay Johnson paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,610 and tops out at $15,030, while the average work can sell for $7,990.