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(American, b. 1971)
Born in Helena, Arkansas, Johnny Taylor grew up in and around Memphis, Tennessee. Early inspirations were MAD Magazine, Star Wars, and the rock band KISS. When he entered school, Johnny drew variations of these subjects ad infinitum. This interest in drawing led to a job producing a weekly comic strip at age 10. Thus encouraged, the young cartoonist determined that he would always make art.
Taylor began painting as a student at the University of Memphis (BFA, Art History, 1996). On New Year’s Eve of 1992, he made a resolution to paint three paintings a day, every day, for the entire year. By the end of 1993, Taylor had begun exhibiting the fruits of his labor. Showing paintings regularly ever since, he has not strayed far from the hard-edged cartoon style that marked his initial efforts. Primarily painted in acrylics with screen printed and stenciled elements, Taylor’s output has tapered somewhat from his earlier, dizzyingly prolific period. Johnny Taylor’s paintings may be found in galleries in Austin, Boston, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Memphis and Zürich.
Johnny Taylor currently resides in Los Angeles, CA.
My paintings explore the things we look at each day without seeing. Though everything is game imagery-wise, I am drawn to advertising images and glyphs, the visual shorthand of contemporary culture.
Bright colored blocks compose my acrylic and mixed media paintings. I enjoy the look and feel of loose, graffiti-like marks, text, and “noise” against these vividly hued planes. Usually I paint with layers, with each new layer showing a bit of the one beneath, either by transparency, the masking of certain areas, or by a scraping away of recent layers. Often this process yields unexpected colors and forms.
My fine art influences include Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Stuart Davis, Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat. I’m also influenced by the regional art of my native American South, especially by Southern folk artists’ use of text as both a thematic and decorative element. The Quilts of Gee’s Bend are a key influence. I also draw inspiration from graffiti art, specifically the stylized, single gesture marks of graffiti tagging.
In a sense my painting’s are post-modern landscapes- I paint what I see. A painting’s composition may derive from an underpass’ blocky, irregular patchwork of painted-over graffiti. Another piece’s umber and vermillion color scheme may be inspired by a business sign I’ve seen on a street that I travel regularly.
(See more information in the artist's bio below)
Select Shows
"Hello, My Name Is…"
Group exhibit
Parlor Gallery | 717 Cookman Ave. | Ashbury Park, NJ
June 22 – July 26, 2024
Opening Reception Saturday, June 22, 2024 6-10pm
"New & Notable"
Group exhibit
Yard Dog Art Gallery | 916 Springdale Rd Building 3, #104 | Austin, TX
November 7 – December 31, 2022
Opening Reception Friday, Nov 11, 2022 7-10pm
"Primavera"
Group exhibit
Parlor Gallery | 717 Cookman Ave. | Ashbury Park, NJ
April 30- June 20, 2022
Opening Reception Saturday, April 30, 2022 6-10pm
"There From Here"
Group show
ArtShare L.A. | 801 E. 4th Place | Los Angeles, CA 90013
April 2- April 25, 2022
Opening reception: Saturday, April 2, 2022. 4-7pm
"CODA ARTSTARS: SEASON 33 OPENING CELEBRATION"
CODA Gallery | 73400 El Paseo, Suite B-1 | Palm Desert CA 92260
>November 30- December 31, 2019
Opening Reception Saturday, November 30, 2019 5-8pm
"Square Pegs"
A specially curated group exhibit celebrating Parlor Gallery's 10th anniversary.
Parlor Gallery | 717 Cookman Ave. | Ashbury Park, NJ
February 9- March 25, 2019
Opening Reception Saturday, February 9, 2019 7-11pm
"Wish I Might"
A group show featuring Aaron Whisner, Anthony Manal Castro, Derek Gores, Hellbent, Johnny Taylor, Katy Hirschfeld, Ken Flewellyn, Kerry Smith, Melody Postma, Mike Shine, Rodrigo Valles
Parlor Gallery | 717 Cookman Ave. | Ashbury Park, NJ
May 5- June 11, 2018
Opening Reception Saturday, May 5, 7-11pm
"Bon Voyage: The Art of Travel and Leisure"
CODA Gallery | 73400 El Paseo, Suite B-1 | Palm Desert CA 92260
November 4- 25, 2018
Opening Reception Friday, May 4, 5-8pm
"NEW ARTISTS GROUP SHOW"
CODA Gallery | 73400 El Paseo, Suite B-1 | Palm Desert CA 92260
November 3- 24, 2017
Opening Reception Friday, November 3, 5-8pm
"LALUZAPALOOZA 2017"
31st Annual Group Show
La Luz de Jesus Gallery | 4633 Hollywood Blvd. | Los Angeles, CA
March 3- April 2, 2017
Opening Reception Friday, March 3, 8-11pm
"Flight Patterns"
Group show featuring Dani Dodge, Andy Bauch, Osceola Refetoff, Johnny Taylor + others.
ArtShare L.A. | 801 E. 4th Place | Los Angeles, CA 90013
July 6- July 23, 2016
Opening reception: Saturday, July 9, 2016. 7-10pm
"Art Hamptons Fair"
Bridgehampton, NY
Private Preview Thursday, June 23, 6:30-9pm
June 23 - June 26, 2016
"Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong"
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Private Preview Wednesday, May 12, 3pm – 10pm
May 12 - May 15, 2016