Biography

Emily Johnson (b. 1976) was raised on a small farm in rural north central Missouri. Much of her youth was spent exploring nature, which influenced her perception of the world and sparked the desire to create. Following that passion, she moved to Kansas City to attend the Kansas City Art Institute where she studied fine art and design, receiving her BFA in 1998.

For the next 20 years she worked as a graphic designer and art director before pursuing fine art full time. Her work is shaped both by her fine art training and her graphic design experience. Working intuitively, she creates a sense of memory and place that feels both familiar and unknown. The human desire to connect with nature is a continued source of inspiration, as can be seen in many of her abstract drawings and paintings.    

A portion of all sales are donated to local non-profit organizations.

Statement

My paintings are about our attraction and innate desire to connect (or reconnect) with nature. My inspiration is often born from meditations, dreams and observations in the natural world. Through painting and drawing I explore this connection with nature, oftentimes revealing a landscape (emotional or physical) that may seem familiar to an observer, allowing a visceral reaction that feels like memory.

EDUCATIOn

1998 BFA, Kansas City Art Institute

1996 Centre d’Art La Rectoria, Independent artist workshop, Spain 

CURRENT & UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS

2024

  • Studio Artist Show, InterUrban ArtHouse, Overland Park KS

RECENT EXHIBITIONS

2024

  • Fresh, Group Exhibition, Blue Gallery, Kansas City MO

2023

  • Wonder Wall, Blue Gallery, Kansas City MO

  • New Works Group Exhibition, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO

  • Kansas City Flatfile & Digitalfile, H&R Block Artspace, Kansas City, MO

  • Liberation, group show, 80 Santa Fe Gallery, Overland Park, KS

  • Studio Artist Showcase, Interurban Arthouse, Overland Park, KS

  • Director’s Cut Group Exhibition, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO

  • KCAC annual art auction, Kansas City Artists Coalition, Kansas City, MO

2022

  • Wonder Wall, Blue Gallery, Kansas City MO

  • Fine Folk solo show, Kansas City, KS

  • 12x12 Community Showcase, Interurban Arthouse, Overland Park KS

  • Studio Artists Showcase, Interurban Arthouse, Overland Park KS

  • KCAC annual art auction, Kansas City Artists Coalition, Kansas City, MO

2021

  • Wonder Wall, Blue Gallery, Kansas City MO

  • Art for All, Kansas City Artists Coalition, Kansas City, MO

  • 12x12 Community Showcase, Interurban Arthouse, Overland Park KS

  • The Green Room, Cerbera Gallery, Kansas City MO

  • KCAC annual art auction, Kansas City Artists Coalition, Kansas City, MO

2020

  • Art for All, Kansas City Artists Coalition, Kansas City, MO

  • Kansas City Abstract Art Exhibition, Virtual Exhibit, artsteps.com

  • Group Show, R.G. Endres Gallery, Prairie Village KS

  • Avenue 82, Overland Park KS

  • KCAC annual art auction, Kansas City Artists Coalition, Kansas City, MO

2019

  • Wonder Wall, Blue Gallery, Kansas City MO

  • Studio & Member Artist Showcase, Interurban Arthouse, Overland Park KS

  • State of the Arts, R.G. Endres Gallery, Prairie Village KS

  • Bits & Pieces, Interurban Arthouse, Overland Park KS

  • Women’s Invitational, Tomahawk Ridge Community Center, Leawood KS

  • Rolling Hills Spring Art Show, Prairie Village KS

  • 12x12 Community Showcase, Interurban Arthouse, Overland Park KS

2018

  • Spring Artists Showcase, Interurban Arthouse, Overland Park KS

  • First Friday Group Art Show, Jones Gallery, Kansas City MO

  • Studio & Member Artist Showcase, Interurban Arthouse, Overland Park KS

  • Holiday Small Works Show, Vanessa Lacy Gallery, Kansas City MO


Corporate Collections

  • Emprise Bank, Kansas City MO

  • Nova R Wealth, Overland Park KS