Christian Johnson is a Portland-based artist whose figurative work bridges Eastern and Western aesthetic traditions. Over three decades, Johnson has developed a distinctive visual language that combines precise draftsmanship with expressive mark-making. His drawings, exhibited at the American Academy of Arts and Letters, are now held in the Portland Museum of Art's permanent collection.
Working primarily in drawing, printmaking, and painting, Johnson employs an intricate stenciling process to achieve his signature layered compositions. This meticulous approach, influenced by both traditional Eastern aesthetics and Western figurative traditions, creates work that exists in the space between careful planning and spontaneous gesture. In 2015, he received the Purchase Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters in recognition of his unique artistic vision. The purchased works have been donated to the Portland Art Museum’s permanent collection.
With a January 2025 solo-exhibit opening at Portland's Oranj Studio, other recent exhibitions include "Summer Exhibit" at Space Gallery, NYC (2024), "Nice to Meet You" at Kelly McKenna Gallery (2023), and "About The Apartment" at Space Gallery (2023). His work has been featured in notable venues such as the Booth Gallery, Panepinto Gallery, Sirona Fine Art, Flowers Gallery NYC, and Mark Miller Gallery.
