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Michael JohnsonABOUT THE ARTIST | VIEW SELECT AVAILABLE WORKS 
In 1960, following the completion of his studies in Sydney at the
Julian Ashton Art School and the National Art School, Michael Johnson
departed for London, where he spent the following seven years. During
this time he painted full time, working periodically as a studio
assistant to the British sculptors Brian Wall and Anthony Caro. In
1967, he returned to Sydney, where he held his first two solo
exhibitions, thus marking the beginning of a long and outstanding
career.
1938 Born Sydney, Australia 1953–59 Studied at Julian Ashton Art School, Sydney Diploma of Art, National Art School, Sydney 1960–67 Lived in London 1962–63 Brian Wall (Steel Sculpture), Studio Assistant 1963–64 Michael Kidner (built and constructed three-dimensional painting), Studio Assistant 1964–65 Anthony Caro (rebuilt and painted ‘Madam Pompadour' aluminium), worked with Ron Robertson Swann and repainted all steel works of Caro (1960–65), Studio Assistant 1969–75 Lived and worked in the United States 1963–85 Lecturer: St Martins School of Art, London; Croydon School of Art, London; Birmingham School of Art, United Kingdom; East Sydney Technical College, Sydney; Alexander Mackie College, Sydney; Sydney College of Arts, Sydney; James Cook University, Townsville; Newcastle College of Advanced Education, NSW; Goulburn College of Advanced Education, NSW; Brisbane Arts Council, QLD; University of New South Wales, Sydney; City Art Institute, Sydney; Crown Lane School of Art, Sydney; Silpakorn University Nakhon, Pathom, Thailand 1980–81 Collaborated with Robert Klippel (convexed/concaved colour on constructivist steel-type sculpture spray painted) Currently Lives and works in Sydney Solo exhibitions 2007 Sherman Galleries, Sydney 2003 Sherman Galleries, Sydney Philip Bacon Galleries, Brisbane 2002 Christine Abrahams Gallery, Melbourne 2001 Sherman Galleries Goodhope, Sydney 1999 Sherman Galleries Goodhope, Sydney 1998 Christine Abrahams Gallery, Melbourne 1997 Sherman Galleries Goodhope, Sydney 1996 Christine Abrahams Gallery, Melbourne 1995 Sherman Galleries Goodhope, Sydney 1994 Christine Abrahams Gallery, Melbourne 1993 Sherman Galleries Goodhope, Sydney 1992 Studio exhibition, Jarocin Ave, Forest Lodge, NSW 1991 Christine Abrahams Gallery, Melbourne 1990 Macquarie Galleries, Sydney 1989 Michael Johnson, Survey 1968–1988, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney; travelled to Moree, Wollongong, NSW Forum, Invitational Art Fair, Hamburg, West Germany 1988 Macquarie Galleries, Sydney Christine Abrahams Gallery, Melbourne 1986 Macquarie Galleries, Sydney University Gallery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne Christine Abrahams Gallery, Melbourne 1985 Studio exhibition, Pitt Street, Haymarket, Sydney Gallery 52, Perth 1983–84 Studio exhibition, Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney 1982 Studio exhibition, Greene Street New York, 237 Lafayette, New York Pinacotheca Gallery, Melbourne 1981 Gallery A, Sydney 1980 Gallery A, Sydney 1979 Gallery A, Sydney 1977 Gallery A, Sydney Max Hutchinson Gallery, New York 1976 Gallery A, Sydney Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane Abraxor Gallery, Canberra 1975 Studio exhibition, James Cook University, QLD 1974 Gallery A, Sydney Studio exhibition, Bowery, New York 1973 Max Hutchinson Gallery, New York 1972 Gallery A, Sydney 1970 Max Hutchinson Gallery, New York 1969 Gallery A, Melbourne 1968 Central Street Gallery, Sydney Gallery A, Sydney 1967 Central Street Gallery, Sydney Gallery A, Sydney Selected group exhibitions 2004 Abstracting the Collection, Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne 2002 20 Years of Canberra, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra 2001 minimal, Holmes à Court Gallery, Perth Five Painters, Sherman Galleries Goodhope, Sydney A Century of Collecting 1901–2001, Ivan Dougherty Gallery, College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales, Sydney 1999 The Rose Crossing Contemporary Art in Australia, Sherman Galleries touring exhibition, Brisbane City Gallery, Brisbane; Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore; Holmes à Court Gallery, Perth; S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney; Campbelltown City Bicentennial Art Gallery, NSW 1996–98 Flagging the Republic, Sherman Galleries Goodhope, Sydney and touring to regional galleries 1997 Anon, Sherman Galleries Goodhope, Sydney Geometric Painting in Australia 1941–1997, University Art Museum, Melbourne 1996 La Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris Greg Weight, Artists' Portraits, Manly Art Gallery and Museum, Sydney 1995 NICAF, Nagoya, Japan Smorgon Collection of Contemporary Art, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney Asia & Oceania Influence, Ivan Dougherty Gallery, College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales, Sydney 1994 On Paper, Solander Gallery, Canberra 1993 On Paper, Sherman Galleries Goodhope, Sydney Australian Tapestries, Victoria and Albert Museum, London 1990 Central Street, Charles Nodrum Gallery, Melbourne; Ray Hughes Gallery, Sydney 1989 Painters' Visions, Macquarie Galleries, Sydney Joye Art Foundation, Baudoin Lebon Gallery, Paris 1988 Macquarie Galleries, Sydney Australian Biennale, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney; National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne 1987 Field to Figuration 1960–86, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Art/LA 87, Los Angeles Art Fair, USA 1986 A Resistant Spirit, Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney; Realities Gallery, Melbourne 1985 Subject of Painting, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney Lecturers of East Sydney Technical College Art School, Cell Block, Darlinghurst, Sydney 1984 The Field Now, Heide Park and Art Gallery, Melbourne Recent Australian Painting, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide 1983 Survey Australian Painting, Commonwealth Bank, Sydney Recent Australian Painting: A Survey 1973–83, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide Aspects of the Landscape, Gallery 52, Perth Twelve Australian Painters, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth The Wrong Place: Five Sydney Painters, Tasmanian School of Art Gallery, University of Tasmania, Hobart 1982 ANZAAS 82 (Eleven Sydney Artists), Macquarie University Library, Sydney Colour Painting, Jacques Spiess Gallery, Paris The Seventies: Australian Paintings and Tapestries From The National Australia Bank Collection, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne 1981 Survey of the Seventies, Bendigo Art Gallery, VIC 1980 Opening Show, Axiom Gallery, Melbourne 1979 Cambodia, Central Street Gallery, Sydney 1978 Contemporary Australian Art to Indonesia, Landscape and Image, A.D.G.C. 1977 Australian Colourists, Western Australian Institute of Technology, Perth 1975 Ten Australians, Gallery A, Sydney 1974 Young New York Artists, travelling exhibition, USA 1972 Australian Paintings and Tapestries of The Past 20 Years, NSW House, London 1970 Max Hutchinson Gallery, New York Colour and Structure, Blaxland Gallery, Sydney 1969 São Paulo Bienal, Brazil Gallery A, Sydney Gallery A, Melbourne 1968 Renting Collection Exhibition, Pinacotheca Gallery, Melbourne Painters and Sculptors of the Gallery, Central Street Gallery, Sydney 21st Show, Central Street Gallery, Sydney Georges' Invitation Art Prize Exhibition, Georges Gallery, Melbourne Pinacotheca, Melbourne UNESCO Biennale, Museum Grimaldi, Cagnes-Sur-Mer, France The Field, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne; Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney 1967 Central Street Gallery, Sydney New Generation Sydney, Gallery A, Sydney 1963–64 Young Commonwealth Artists, RBA Galleries, London New Vision Centre, London Qantas Gallery, Sydney Australian Painting and Sculpture in Europe Today, Arts Centre Folkstone, London; Stadtliches Kunstinstitut Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany John Moore's Gallery, Liverpool, UK 1962–63 Molton Gallery, London 1962 Young Contemporaries, RBA Galleries, London Commonwealth Festival/Biennale, Commonwealth Institute, London Awards and commissions 1989 Sydney Conference Centre, NSW 1986 Visual Arts Board (Artist-in-Residence), The University of Melbourne, Melbourne 1984 Mural, State Bank of New South Wales, NSW 1983 Tapestry, Waverley Council Civic Centre, Victoria 1981 Visual Arts Board (New York Studio), New York 1980 Camden Art Society (Works on Paper), NSW 1976 Gold Coast Art Prize (Painting), QLD 1975 Visual Arts Board (Artist-in-Residence grant), Sydney James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 1974 Visual Arts Board (Grant), Sydney 1967 R. H. Taft's Prize, Contemporary Art Society Annual Exhibition, Sydney Collections National Gallery of Australia, Canberra Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane Parliament House, Canberra Ballarat Art Gallery, VIC Burnie Art Gallery, TAS Gold Coast City Art Gallery Collection, QLD Newcastle Region Art Gallery, NSW New England Regional Art Museum, NSW Wollongong Art Gallery, NSW Australian National University, Canberra James Cook University, Townsville, QLD Monash University, Clayton, VIC The University of Melbourne Art Collection, Melbourne State Library of Western Australia, Perth Camden Council Art Collection, NSW Townsville Council Art Collection, QLD Waverley Council Art Collection, VIC Artbank Joye Foundation, NSW Commonwealth Bank of Australia, NSW Commercial Union Insurance, VIC Daryl Jackson, VIC Holmes à Court Collection, Perth Hyatt Adelaide, SA Hyatt on Collins, Melbourne Medibank, Sydney National Bank of Australasia, Melbourne Park Grand Hotel, NSW Philip Cox and Partners, NSW Sly and Weigall, NSW State Bank Australia Telstra, Sydney Westfield, NSW Westpac, NSW Westpac Collection, Sydney Yulara Tourist Resort, Northern Territory Chartwell Collection, Waikato Museum of Art & History, Hamilton, NZ Chase Manhattan, New York Croydon Education Committee, London Selected bibliography Patrick McCaughey, 'The significance of the Field', Art & Australia, December 1968 Kym Bonython (ed.), Modern Australian Painting 1960–1970, Rigby, Adelaide, 1970 Elwyn Lynn, 'Australian abstractions in the New York melting-pot', The Bulletin, 5 December 1970 Lawrence Campbell, Art News, vol. 69, no. 8, 21 December 1970, p. 8 W. Domingo, Arts Magazine, vol. 45, December 1970, p. 58 Carter Ratcliff, ‘New York Letter’, Art International, summer 1973, pp. 60–62, Lenore Goldberg, ‘Clear vision’, Arts Magazine, September–October 1973 Peter Frank, ‘He's matured, put on weight in New York’, The Age, 9 February 1972 Peter Frank, Art News, summer, May 1973, p. 92 Mervyn Horton (ed.), Australian Painters of the 70s, Ure Smith, Sydney, 1975 Tony McGillick, ‘A viable future for painting’, Nation Review, 30 June – 6 July 1977, p. 22 Ron Radford, Recent Australian Painting: A Survey 1970–1983, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, 1983 Paul McGillick, The Subject of Painting, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 1985 Michael Johnson Paintings 1968–1986, University Gallery, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 1986 Terence Maloon, ‘Thick skin is shed, a butterfly is exposed’, Sydney Morning Herald, 29 March 1986 Gary Catalano, ’Abstracts filled with an emotional substance’, The Age, 20 August 1986 Tony Bond, Surface for Reflection Part s I & II, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 1987 Robert Lindsay, Field to Figuration: Australian Art 1960–1986, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, 1987 Minimal Art in Australia, Museum of Contemporary Art, Brisbane, 1988 Victoria Lynn, Michael Johnson Paintings 1968–1988, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 1989 Christopher Allen, ‘An exuberant Johnson turns new artist at 50’, Sydney Morning Herald, 11 February 1989 Paul McGillick, 'The abstract in perspective', Australian Financial Review, 17 February 1989 Catharine Lumby, ‘Abstraction’, West, vol. 3, no. 2, 1992 Elwyn Lynn, ‘Capturing the new shape of abstraction’, The Weekend Australian, 20–21 February, 1993 Felicity Fenner, 'Orchestrating virtuosity', Sydney Morning Herald, 20 March 1993 Joanna Mendelssohn, 'Bunch of tens', The Bulletin, December 1993 Felicity Fenner, 'Metaphoric waiting room', Sydney Morning Herald, 1 April 1994 Nevill Drury, Images 2: Contemporary Australian Painting, Craftsman House, Sydney, 1994 John McDonald, 'The origins of the artistic species', Sydney Morning Herald, 16 September 1995 Paul McGillick, 'From luminous fields of pure colour to seething surfaces', Monument, no. 10, 1995 Joanna Mendelssohn, '1968 Primavera', The Australian, 15 September 1995 Carolynne Skinner & Alexandra Morphett, 'Gastronomy as Art', Oz Art, no. 12, September–December 1995 TECCA 2, Joan and Peter Clemenger Triennial Exhibition of Contemporary Australian Art, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne 1996, pp. 18–19 Susan McCulloch, 'Triennial Exhibition of Contemporary Art', Asian Art News, May–June 1996 Angela Bennie, 'Another way of seeing', Sydney Morning Herald, 12 September 1997 John McDonald, 'Dreaming in colour', Sydney Morning Herald, 13 September 1997 Sebastian Smee, ‘Colour splendid’, Sydney Morning Herald, 20 July 1999 Bruce James, ‘Order from chaos’, Sydney Morning Herald, 24 July 1999 Eccles, Jeremy, ‘Reflections of the melting pot’, Asia Week, ‘Arts & Sciences Olympic Games’, 21 January 2000, pp. 42–43 ‘Contemporary Art in Australia Exhibition’, Elle (Hong Kong), no. 146, December 1999 ‘The Rose Crossing: Contemporary Art in Australia’, Esquire (Hong Kong), no. 133, December 1999 ‘13 hybridisation stories’, Hong Kong Economic Journal, 3 December 1999 ‘The hybrid rose’, Sing Tao Daily News, 26 November 1999 ‘The Rose Crossing: Contemporary Art in Australia’, Ming Pao Weekly, 27 November 1999 ‘13 Australian Artists’ Association Art Exhibition’, Ta Kung Pao, 3 December 1999 ‘The Rose Crossing: Contemporary Art in Australia’, Youth’s Bi-Weekly, 4 December 1999 ‘The Rose Crossing: Contemporary Art in Australia’, W, no. 6, December 1999 ‘Symbols full of artificial expression’, Ming Pao Daily News, 9 December 1999 ‘The Rose Crossing’, Ming Pao Daily News, 5 December 1999 ‘The Rose Crossing: Contemporary Art in Australia’, Sing Tao Daily News, 7 December 1999 ‘Hybrid culture = Australian culture?’, Ming Pao Daily News, 9 December 1999 ‘The Rose Crossing’, Hong Kong Economic Journal, 15 December 1999 ‘The fantasies of immigrant art’, Chinese Newspaper, 26 November 1999 ‘Cultural event: The Rose Crossing: Contemporary Art in Australia’, Ming Pao Daily News, 28 November 1999 ‘The Rose Crossing exhibition and Dale Barlow Quartet concert’, Ming Pao Daily News, 28 November 1999 ‘The Rose Crossing: Contemporary Art in Australia’, Hong Kong Economic Journal, 24 November 1999 ‘The Rose Crossing: Contemporary Art in Australia’, Sing Tao Daily News, 29 November 1999 ‘Hybridisation: The Rose Crossing: Contemporary Art in Australia’, East Touch, 30 November 1999 Paul McGillick, ‘Canvassing opinions’, Panorama, July 2001 ’50 of Australia’s most collectable artists’, Australian Art Collector, no. 27, January–March, 2004 Barry Pearce, Michael Johnson, Beagle Press, Sydney, 2004 Angela Bennie, ‘Eruptions from the volcano’, Metropolitan, Sydney Morning Herald, 13 April 2004, p. 12 Laura Murray Cree (ed.), Twenty: Sherman Galleries 1986–2006, Craftsman House (Thames & Hudson Australia), Melbourne, 2006 Carmel Dwyer, ‘Relaxed and confident’, Australian Art Collector, no. 38, October–December 2006, pp. 189–193 Anthony Huckstep, 'A decorative degustation', Australian Art Review, November 2006 – February 2007, pp. 82–86 Paul McGillick, Australian Art Collector, no. 39, January–March 2007 Karen Pakula, ‘I still have 500 paintings to do’, Spectrum, Sydney Morning Herald, 24–25 March 2007, pp. 18–19 John McDonald, ‘The meaning of colour’, Spectrum, Sydney Morning Herald, 31 March – 1 April 2007, pp. 16–17
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Artist EncountersInternationally recognised abstract painter talks to Tim Olsen about the inspiration and the unique language employed in his recent work. Includes archival footage of Johnson experimenting with pigments in the landscape and rare glimpses into his Sydney studio.Internationally recognised abstract painter talks to Tim Olsen about the inspiration and the unique language employed in his recent work. Includes archival footage of Johnson experimenting with pigments in the landscape and rare glimpses into his Sydney studio. » more |
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