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.to
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Artist: Clay Johnson
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
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 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)
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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)
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 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 (#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
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 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
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
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 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
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)
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
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
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)
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
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
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)
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)
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)
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
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Dillon's choice (Abstract painting)
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Located in London, GB
Dillon's choice (Abstract painting)
Acrylic on linen - Unframed
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Dillon's choice (Abstract painting)
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Orchard #2
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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...
Category
2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings
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Canvas, Acrylic
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
By Clay Johnson
Located in London, GB
Acrylic on wood panel - Unframed
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2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Paintings
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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.
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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.