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Lester Johnson Art

American, 1919-2010

A New York artist, known as a second-generation Abstract Expressionist, Lester Johnson was born to a large Lutheran family in Minneapolis. He studied at the Minneapolis School of Art and the St. Paul Art School. There, he was introduced to Hans Hofmann's teaching approach, particularly the push and pull effects of form and color by St. Paul teachers Alexander Masley and Cameron Booth, both of whom had studied with Hofmann in Munich. After further study at the Chicago Art Institute, Johnson moved to New York City in 1947 and became one of the first downtown loft-dwellers. He shared a lower East Side studio with Larry Rivers and attended some of Hofmann's New York classes. Rents were cheap, but Johnson was broke much of the time as he tried to support his painting through a variety of part-time jobs, including teaching art. In 1950, he and realist figurative painter Philip Pearlstein shared studio space. Lester's wife, Jo, had introduced the two artists at a time when she and Pearlstein were studying art history at New York University.

Johnson's various studios, on the Bowery and elsewhere, were always one flight up with a view of Manhattan's active street life. No wonder, for over 50 years, street scenes have been a dominant part of his art. Johnson adopted the working techniques of action painting, which meant he used a great deal of paint. A tube of oil paint might be expended in seconds as he, like Pollock, physically projected himself into the work. The images that Johnson produced were not decorative, but stubbornly confrontational, oversize, brooding, thickly encrusted, scarred surfaces that were alive with recognizable objects and figures. Even today, few realize how radical it was for Johnson to depict a recognizable subject in an adamantly pro-abstract-expressionist climate. Sculptor George Segal recalled, "The Abstract Expressionists were legislating any reference to the physical world totally out of art. This was outrageous to us." The rebellion came naturally to Lester Johnson, and he remained tenaciously outside the mainstream. Nonetheless, he produced a body of work that influenced several generations of younger painters and confounded an art establishment in need of neat categorization. He remains one of the few painters whose work holds significance for both abstract and figurative artists. Johnson's animated men and women, with all their nervous energy, yield themselves only gradually to analysis and will no doubt be reinterpreted for many years to come.

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PASSING CROWD Signed Lithograph Women Men Walking, Peach, Burgundy Sheath Dress
PASSING CROWD Signed Lithograph Women Men Walking, Peach, Burgundy Sheath Dress

Lester JohnsonPASSING CROWD Signed Lithograph Women Men Walking, Peach, Burgundy Sheath Dress, 1980

$556Sale Price|37% Off

PASSING CROWD Signed Lithograph Women Men Walking, Peach, Burgundy Sheath Dress

By Lester Johnson

Located in Union City, NJ

PASSING CROWD is an original hand drawn lithograph by the NY figurative expressionist painter, Lester Johnson. Printed using hand lithography techniques on archival ARCHES paper 100% acid free, full bleed image, no margins. In PASSING CROWD, a group of fashionable city women and men walking...

Category

1980s Contemporary Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Lithograph

Street Scene 4
Street Scene 4

Lester JohnsonStreet Scene 4, 1978

$350

Street Scene 4

By Lester Johnson

Located in Hollywood, FL

Artist: Lester Johnson Title: Street Scene 4 Medium: Lithograph Signed: Hand Signed Edition: Edition of 175 Measurements: 29" x 21" Year: 1978 Note: This piece is sold UNFRAMED Con...

Category

1970s Contemporary Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Lithograph

CITY SCENE
CITY SCENE

Lester JohnsonCITY SCENE, 1970

$1,875

CITY SCENE

By Lester Johnson

Located in Portland, ME

Johnson, Lester (American, 1919-2010). CITY SCENE. Lithograph, 1970. Edition of 20. Signed in pencil and numbered "3/20." 19 1/4 x 30 inches (image/sheet),...

Category

1970s Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Lithograph

Frontal Street Scene
Frontal Street Scene

Lester JohnsonFrontal Street Scene

$1,400

Frontal Street Scene

By Lester Johnson

Located in San Francisco, CA

This lithograph is immediately identifiable as the work of Lester Johnson (1919-2010) . The print is titled “Frontal Street Scene.” It was published in 1970 by Collector’s Press. Th...

Category

1970s Expressionist Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Lithograph

Untitled (Figures in a park)
Untitled (Figures in a park)

Lester JohnsonUntitled (Figures in a park), 1991

$1,800

Untitled (Figures in a park)

By Lester Johnson

Located in Fairlawn, OH

Untitled (Figures in a park) Watercolor on paper, 1991 Signed lower right of image (see photo) Condition: Excellent Sheet size: 10 3/16 x 14 1/16 inches Provenance: David Anderson Ga...

Category

1990s Abstract Expressionist Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Watercolor

MEN IN BOWLER HATS
MEN IN BOWLER HATS

Lester JohnsonMEN IN BOWLER HATS, 1973

$7,200

MEN IN BOWLER HATS

By Lester Johnson

Located in Portland, ME

Johnson, Lester (American, 1919-2010). MEN IN BOWLER HATS. Drawing, watercolor, wash, and pastel on paper, 1973. Signed, lower right. 26 1/2 x 40 1/2 inches...

Category

1970s Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Pastel, Watercolor

New York Dancers, Lithograph by Lester Johnson

Lester JohnsonNew York Dancers, Lithograph by Lester Johnson, 1980

$1,000

New York Dancers, Lithograph by Lester Johnson

By Lester Johnson

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Lester Johnson, American (1919 - 2010) Title: New York Dancers (5) Year: Circa 1980 Medium: Lithograph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 175 Image Size: 25 x 18 inches ...

Category

1980s Contemporary Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Lithograph

“Green twins”
“Green twins”

Lester Johnson“Green twins”

$30,000

“Green twins”

By Lester Johnson

Located in Warren, NJ

Lester Johnson original oil on canvas “Green Twins” very large. in good condition measures 60x47. buyer is responsible for all additional shipping charges

Category

20th Century Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Oil

STREET SCENE Signed Lithograph, Men and Women Walking, Figurative Expressionism
STREET SCENE Signed Lithograph, Men and Women Walking, Figurative Expressionism

Lester JohnsonSTREET SCENE Signed Lithograph, Men and Women Walking, Figurative Expressionism, 1980

$400Sale Price|46% Off

STREET SCENE Signed Lithograph, Men and Women Walking, Figurative Expressionism

By Lester Johnson

Located in Union City, NJ

STREET SCENE is an original hand drawn lithograph by the NY painter, Lester Johnson. Printed using hand lithography techniques on archival ARCHES paper 100% acid free. In STREET SCEN...

Category

1980s Contemporary Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Lithograph

GROUP WALKING 1982 NYC Exhibition Poster, Fashionable Women Auburn Hair
GROUP WALKING 1982 NYC Exhibition Poster, Fashionable Women Auburn Hair

Lester JohnsonGROUP WALKING 1982 NYC Exhibition Poster, Fashionable Women Auburn Hair, 1982

$325

GROUP WALKING 1982 NYC Exhibition Poster, Fashionable Women Auburn Hair

By Lester Johnson

Located in Union City, NJ

LESTER JOHNSON 1982 NYC Vintage Art Exhibition Poster Print Size - 
25.25 x 29.5 inches, unframed, excellent condition, unsigned Image size - 18.5 x 23 inches Year published - 1982 GROUP WALKING is a vintage fine art exhibition poster by the American expressionist painter LESTER JOHNSON. It was created in 1982 in conjunction with the gallery exhibition of Johnson's paintings at Gimpel and Weitzenhoffer Gallery NYC. GROUP WALKING was printed in color offset lithography on high quality 80 lb. satin finish paper in soft pastel shades of pale peach, orange, pink, brown, green, muted navy blue, gray, black and white. GROUP WALKING is a modern figurative portrait depicting four fashionable women with auburn hair dressed in multicolored print sheath dresses and one young man wearing a navy blue Yankees cap smoking his cigarette in the background as they pass each other on a city street. As a figurative expressionist and member of the Second Generation of the New York School, painter Lester Johnson(1919-2010) remained dedicated to the human figure as means of expression through the many stylistic changes of his oeuvre. Johnson exhibited his art at the Martha Jackson Gallery, Zabriskie Gallery...

Category

1980s Contemporary Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Offset

CITY GRACES Signed Lithograph, Group Portrait, Peach, Yellow, Brown, Plum
CITY GRACES Signed Lithograph, Group Portrait, Peach, Yellow, Brown, Plum

Lester JohnsonCITY GRACES Signed Lithograph, Group Portrait, Peach, Yellow, Brown, Plum, 1980

$636Sale Price|20% Off

CITY GRACES Signed Lithograph, Group Portrait, Peach, Yellow, Brown, Plum

By Lester Johnson

Located in Union City, NJ

CITY GRACES is an original hand drawn lithograph by the NY figurative expressionist painter, Lester Johnson. Printed using hand lithography techniques on archival printmaking paper 1...

Category

1980s Contemporary Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Lithograph

CITY GRACES Signed Lithograph, Modern Figurative Print, Fashion Portrait
CITY GRACES Signed Lithograph, Modern Figurative Print, Fashion Portrait

Lester JohnsonCITY GRACES Signed Lithograph, Modern Figurative Print, Fashion Portrait, 1980

$720Sale Price|20% Off

CITY GRACES Signed Lithograph, Modern Figurative Print, Fashion Portrait

By Lester Johnson

Located in Union City, NJ

CITY GRACES is an original hand drawn lithograph by the NY figurative expressionist painter, Lester Johnson. Printed using hand lithography techniques on archival ARCHES paper 100% a...

Category

1980s Contemporary Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Lithograph

City Group Signed Lithograph, Figurative Expressionism, 1980, 28x22"
City Group Signed Lithograph, Figurative Expressionism, 1980, 28x22"

Lester JohnsonCity Group Signed Lithograph, Figurative Expressionism, 1980, 28x22", 1980

$850

City Group Signed Lithograph, Figurative Expressionism, 1980, 28x22"

By Lester Johnson

Located in Union City, NJ

CITY GROUP is an original hand drawn lithograph by the NY figurative expressionist painter, Lester Johnson. Printed using hand lithography techniques on archival printmaking paper 10...

Category

1980s Contemporary Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Lithograph

DaVinci Tee Threesome, Signed Lithograph, Figurative Portrait, 1980
DaVinci Tee Threesome, Signed Lithograph, Figurative Portrait, 1980

Lester JohnsonDaVinci Tee Threesome, Signed Lithograph, Figurative Portrait, 1980, 1980

$980

DaVinci Tee Threesome, Signed Lithograph, Figurative Portrait, 1980

By Lester Johnson

Located in Union City, NJ

DaVinci Tee Threesome is an original hand drawn lithograph by the NY figurative expressionist painter, Lester Johnson(1919-2010). DaVinci Tee Threesome was printed using hand lithogr...

Category

1980s Contemporary Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Lithograph

Close Up, Pop Art Lithograph by Lester Johnson

Lester JohnsonClose Up, Pop Art Lithograph by Lester Johnson, 1980

$850

Close Up, Pop Art Lithograph by Lester Johnson

By Lester Johnson

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Lester Johnson, American (1919 - 2010) Title: Close Up Year: Circa 1980 Medium: Lithograph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 175 Paper Size: 28 ...

Category

1980s Contemporary Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Lithograph

Lester Johnson Lithograph Signed Numbered
Lester Johnson Lithograph Signed Numbered

Lester Johnson Lithograph Signed Numbered

$1,210

Lester Johnson Lithograph Signed Numbered

By Lester Johnson

Located in W Allenhurst, NJ

Artist: Lester Johnson, American (1919 - 2010) Medium: Lithograph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 200

Category

20th Century American Expressionist Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Paper

Group Scene Slacks
Group Scene Slacks

Lester JohnsonGroup Scene Slacks, 1979

$350

Group Scene Slacks

By Lester Johnson

Located in Hollywood, FL

Artist: Lester Johnson Title: Group Scene Slacks Medium: Lithograph Signed: Hand Signed Edition: Edition of 175 Measurements: 29" x 21" Year: 1979 Note: This piece is sold UNFRAMED ...

Category

1970s Contemporary Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Lithograph

'Street Scene With Man & Women' original silkscreen signed by Lester Johnson
'Street Scene With Man & Women' original silkscreen signed by Lester Johnson

Lester Johnson'Street Scene With Man & Women' original silkscreen signed by Lester Johnson, 1979

$3,480

'Street Scene With Man & Women' original silkscreen signed by Lester Johnson

By Lester Johnson

Located in Milwaukee, WI

The present work is an original screen print signed by Lester Johnson, from his 'Street Scene Portfolio.' It features four figures, all wearing fashionable street clothing emblematic...

Category

1970s Contemporary Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Screen

PASSING CROWD Signed Lithograph, Women Walking, Man in Hard Hat, Zigzag Dress
PASSING CROWD Signed Lithograph, Women Walking, Man in Hard Hat, Zigzag Dress

Lester JohnsonPASSING CROWD Signed Lithograph, Women Walking, Man in Hard Hat, Zigzag Dress, 1980

$640Sale Price|20% Off

PASSING CROWD Signed Lithograph, Women Walking, Man in Hard Hat, Zigzag Dress

By Lester Johnson

Located in Union City, NJ

PASSING CROWD(Hard Hat) is an original hand drawn lithograph by the NY figurative expressionist painter, Lester Johnson. Printed using hand lithography techniques on archival ARCHES ...

Category

1980s Contemporary Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Lithograph

MEN IN STREET

Lester JohnsonMEN IN STREET

$950

MEN IN STREET

By Lester Johnson

Located in Portland, ME

Johnson, Lester. MEN IN STREET #2. Etching in colors, 1973. Edition of 35, numbered 33/35, titled, and signed in pencil. 19 1/2 x 25 inches, 494 x 635 mm. (plate); 25 x 31 inches,...

Category

Mid-20th Century Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Etching

CLOSE UP Hand Drawn Lithograph Closeup Crowd Portrait Blondie T-Shirt, Cigarette
CLOSE UP Hand Drawn Lithograph Closeup Crowd Portrait Blondie T-Shirt, Cigarette

Lester JohnsonCLOSE UP Hand Drawn Lithograph Closeup Crowd Portrait Blondie T-Shirt, Cigarette, 1980

$780Sale Price|20% Off

CLOSE UP Hand Drawn Lithograph Closeup Crowd Portrait Blondie T-Shirt, Cigarette

By Lester Johnson

Located in Union City, NJ

CLOSE UP is an original hand drawn lithograph by the NY figurative expressionist painter, Lester Johnson. Printed using hand lithography techniques on archival ARCHES paper 100% acid...

Category

1980s Contemporary Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Lithograph

'Street Scene With Building #2' original silkscreen signed by Lester Johnson
'Street Scene With Building #2' original silkscreen signed by Lester Johnson

Lester Johnson'Street Scene With Building #2' original silkscreen signed by Lester Johnson, 1979

$3,480

'Street Scene With Building #2' original silkscreen signed by Lester Johnson

By Lester Johnson

Located in Milwaukee, WI

The present work is an original screen print signed by Lester Johnson, from his 'Street Scene Portfolio.' It features four figures, all wearing fashionable street clothing emblematic...

Category

1970s Contemporary Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Screen

untitled

Lester Johnsonuntitled, 1972

$12,000Sale Price|20% Off

untitled

By Lester Johnson

Located in New York, NY

Lester Johnson untitled charcoal, conte crayon, and spray enamel on board from 1972. Framed.

Category

1970s Other Art Style Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Conté, Charcoal, Spray Paint, Board

Da Vinci's Restaurant, Lithograph by Lester Johnson

Lester JohnsonDa Vinci's Restaurant, Lithograph by Lester Johnson, 1980

$850

Da Vinci's Restaurant, Lithograph by Lester Johnson

By Lester Johnson

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Lester Johnson Title: DaVinci's Restaurant Year: 1980 Medium: Lithograph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 150 Paper Size: 28 x 21 inches

Category

1980s Contemporary Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Lithograph

New York Dancers, Lithograph by Lester Johnson

Lester JohnsonNew York Dancers, Lithograph by Lester Johnson, 1980

$850

New York Dancers, Lithograph by Lester Johnson

By Lester Johnson

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Lester Johnson, American (1919 - 2010) Title: New York Dancers (3) Year: Circa 1980 Medium: Lithograph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 1...

Category

1980s Contemporary Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Lithograph

Girls Walking State 3
Girls Walking State 3

Lester JohnsonGirls Walking State 3

$1,440Sale Price|20% Off

Girls Walking State 3

By Lester Johnson

Located in New York, NY

Lester Johnson Girls Walking State 3 etching 1986. Designated edition number 8 of 21 in pencil lower left recto. Signed in pencil "Lester Johnson" lower right recto.

Category

1980s Expressionist Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Etching, Aquatint, Intaglio

3 Crouching Figures #1

Lester Johnson3 Crouching Figures #1, 1968

$7,200Sale Price|20% Off

3 Crouching Figures #1

By Lester Johnson

Located in New York, NY

Ink and spray enamel on paper. Signed "Lester Johnson" and dated "1968" lower right recto. Provenance: Martha Jackson Gallery

Category

1960s Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Paper, Ink, Spray Paint

Street Scene White Dress
Street Scene White Dress

Lester JohnsonStreet Scene White Dress, 1980

$360

Street Scene White Dress

By Lester Johnson

Located in Hollywood, FL

Artist: Lester Johnson Title: Street Scene White Dress Medium: Lithograph Signed: Hand Signed Edition: From the edition of 175 Measurements: 29" x 21" Year: 1980 Note: This piece is...

Category

1980s Contemporary Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Lithograph

'Two Women & Man With Band T-Shirt' original screenprint by Lester Johnson
'Two Women & Man With Band T-Shirt' original screenprint by Lester Johnson

Lester Johnson'Two Women & Man With Band T-Shirt' original screenprint by Lester Johnson, 1979

$3,480

'Two Women & Man With Band T-Shirt' original screenprint by Lester Johnson

By Lester Johnson

Located in Milwaukee, WI

The present work is an original screen print signed by Lester Johnson, from his 'Street Scene Portfolio.' It features three figures, all wearing fashionable street clothing emblemati...

Category

1980s Contemporary Lester Johnson Art

Materials

Screen

Lester Johnson art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Lester Johnson art available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of art to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of orange and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Lester Johnson in lithograph, paint, screen print and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Lester Johnson art, so small editions measuring 11 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Chaim Gross, Romare Bearden, and Pipo Nguyen-Duy. Lester Johnson art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $115 and tops out at $12,000, while the average work can sell for $925.

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