Aaron Johnson

Coinciding with his solo show Day is Night in Shanghai, we are pleased to present a special project of ten paintings at Almine Rech Paris Showroom. These small portraits, appearing as hazy visions, invite the viewer into one-on-one connections with magical beings.  The paintings feature eccentric characters who are in turns ghostly, angelic, comical, psychedelic, and enchanting. Some are nature spirits, adorned with flowers and foliage, and others are cosmic beings, aglow with star light. Johnson’s fluid approach to painting is rooted in the tradition of Color Field painting, working on the floor staining raw canvas with washes of color, allowing spontaneity and unpredictability to drive the compositions. This special series was made while he was artist-in-residence in Mallorca in the summer of 2022, immersed in Mediterranean nature and intense sun and heat, and these works capture the essence of that experience.