New works on paper by Clay Johnson

Untitled (detail), 2023, acrylic on paper

New Year, New Work

Recent Paintings on Paper

Kicking off 2023 with a group of seven new paintings on paper, presented below. All are 20″ x 16″.

Recent Works on Paper

This suite of small paintings, the first ones completed in 2023, seem a fitting way to start the new year.

Untitled (#721), 2022, acrylic on paper, 20" x 16" by Clay Johnson

Untitled (#721), 2023, 20″ x 16″
acrylic on paper

Untitled (#722), 2022, acrylic on paper, 20" x 16" by Clay Johnson

Untitled (#722), 2023, 20″ x 16″
acrylic on paper

Untitled (#723), 2022, acrylic on paper, 20" x 16" by Clay Johnson

Untitled (#723), 2023, 20″ x 16″
acrylic on paper

Untitled (#724), 2022, acrylic on paper, 20" x 16" by Clay Johnson

Untitled (#724), 2023, 20″ x 16″
acrylic on paper

Untitled (#725), 2022, acrylic on paper, 20" x 16" by Clay Johnson

Untitled (#725), 2023, 20″ x 16″
acrylic on paper

These seven small works on paper represent the beginnings of a subtle evolution in the series of paintings that has occupied me for the last several years. I find myself inclined to use my geometric system of visual organization more as a starting point now than as a structure. The horizontal divisions of space serve as an underlying concept rather than a superimposed form.

The work continues to explore issues of time and the ways in which past events inform present experiences. I find the medium of painting to be uniquely adept at collapsing and suspending time—constructing a single, timeless moment from events that have transpired over days, months, or years. In my work, the visible history of each painting’s making provides the primary subject of its narrative.

Untitled (#726), 2022, acrylic on paper, 20" x 16" by Clay Johnson

Untitled (#726), 2023, 20″ x 16″
acrylic on paper

Untitled (#727), 2022, acrylic on paper, 20" x 16" by Clay Johnson

Untitled (#727), 2023, 20″ x 16″
acrylic on paper

More Paintings on Paper

The paintings are comprised of many layers of paint applied in overlapping sections—covering parts of the existing layers, while leaving other areas exposed. The paint is applied with varying degrees of transparency such that even the regions that are painted over still show through in places. In many cases, selected areas are sanded to bring forth underlying colors and textures.

Untitled (#709), 2022, acrylic on paper, 22" x 30" by Clay Johnson

Untitled (#709), 2022, 22″ x 30″
acrylic on paper

Untitled (#705), 2021, acrylic on paper, 20" x 16" by Clay Johnson

Untitled (#705), 2021, 20″ x 16″
acrylic on paper

Untitled (#706), 2021, acrylic on paper, 20" x 16" by Clay Johnson

Untitled (#706), 2021, 20″ x 16″
acrylic on paper

Untitled (#707), 2021, acrylic on paper, 20" x 16" by Clay Johnson

Untitled (#707), 2021, 20″ x 16″
acrylic on paper

I work on an array of supports/surfaces and at a range of sizes—from small works on paper, like those above, to large paintings on canvas or aluminum panels. Each combination of material and scale demands a slightly different approach or treatment. Making a large painting is a much more physical exercise than working on a small sheet of paper, and that’s reflected in the end result.

Larger Paintings

Inversion, 2022, acrylic on aluminum panel, 36" x 48" by Clay Johnson

Inversion, 2022, acrylic on aluminum panel, 36″ x 48″

The Royal, 2022, acrylic on aluminum panel, 36" x 48" by Clay Johnson

The Royal, 2022, acrylic on aluminum panel, 36″ x 48″

The New Math, 2021, acrylic on aluminum panel, 36" x 36" by Clay Johnson

The New Math, 2021, 36″ x 36″
acrylic on aluminum panel

Andrew's Refrain, 2022, acrylic on wood panel, 36" x 36" by Clay Johnson

Andrew’s Refrain, 2022, 36″ x 36″
acrylic on wood panel

The Delegation, 2020, acrylic on canvas, 60" x 60" by Clay Johnson

The Delegation, 2020, 60″ x 60″
acrylic on canvas

Installation view of Twice Removed, 2021, acrylic on aluminum panel, 36" x 48" by Clay Johnson

Painting Installation Views

A new visualization tool for available works

Now you can see installation mock-ups for all works that are currently available from the studio. Simply click the “View Installation Photo” link on the page of any available painting or work on paper to get a better sense of how it will look when hanging on a wall.