Barry Johnson (artist) facts for kids

Barry Johnson is an American artist and writer. He likes to write his name as barry johnson using all small letters. He creates many different types of art, including paintings, sculptures, and murals. He also writes books for children.

Early Life and Education

Barry Johnson was born and grew up in Topeka, Kansas. After high school, he went to Emporia State University. There, he studied business and marketing.

After college, he worked for the American Red Cross in Seattle. He also worked for a company called Deloitte. After a few years, he decided to follow his passion for art. He taught himself how to draw and paint using online lessons and books. Art became his full-time job.

Exploring Art: Barry Johnson's Career

Barry Johnson creates art using many different methods. He makes murals, sketches, photographs, paintings, and sculptures. Many of his paintings do not have titles.

Art and Activism

In 2016, Johnson created a special art project called Word Is. For this project, he scattered ten thousand cards around a gallery. Each card had a printed tweet about Black Lives Matter. This showed how he mixes art with important social messages.

Johnson's art often focuses on "Community, Culture, and Connection." He believes art can bring people together.

Exhibitions and Talks

In 2017, Johnson had his own art show at the Center on Contemporary Art in Seattle. His work was also part of a group show called Bloodlines at the ArtXchange gallery.

In 2018, he had another solo show called I'm F.I.N.E in Tacoma, Washington. Many of the artworks in this show were inspired by American soul music. That year, he also showed his art at the Onyx gallery. He also gave a TEDx talk, sharing how he creates his art.

Recent Projects

In 2019, Johnson's paintings were part of an exhibition for the Pierce County Aids Foundation. In 2020, he joined the Vivid Matter Collective. This group uses art to promote positive change in Seattle. He helped paint the "E" in the Black Lives Matter mural. This mural was created during the time of the CHOP in Seattle.

How Barry Johnson Creates Art

Some of Johnson's artworks come with written texts. These texts explain his thoughts and feelings while he was creating the art. He says these texts help him tell a story through his art.

He uses many different materials and styles in his work. People say his art is very flexible. He can create paintings, sculptures, art installations, films, and even fashion designs.

Barry Johnson as a Writer

Besides being an artist, Barry Johnson also writes children's books. He wrote and illustrated a book called Oh What Wonderful Hair. This book was inspired by his experiences with his own daughter.