Ed Johnson comes to the Massachusetts area displaced by Hurricane Katrina. This has been a profound inspiration for his artwork, much of it Surreal in quality, the images floating within the field searching for the perfect anchor.
Ed contrasts rich, dense color fields with textural, painstakingly drawn images. This creates a quality of great depth, and allows the viewer to consider the meaning of the images he portrays. One piece in particular shows a face etched into roughly hewn woodgrain, imploring of the observer from the surface of the painting. It is a quest for answers, for meaning, and for salvation.
Fellow CommonArt artist Alex Cordero describes the day he followed Ed just to get a look at a painted image on his jacket! Ed’s work has an immediate impact. His skill and focus add to the great contemplation of his work.