David Johnson

(American, b. 1982; resides in St. Louis, MO)

Using various light temperatures, distinct angles and a large format camera, David Johnson creates abstractions examining the role of human occupancy in domestic, office and exhibition spaces. His series institutional etiquette and strange overtones (2011-2012), was created for the Contemporary Art Museum in St. Louis as part of the Great Rivers Biennial. The series examines the museum’s institutional ecosystem, documenting the galleries and offices of the museum, as well as the homes of select museum donors. Using the formal structure of the built environment as an entry point, Johnson’s images focus on the intersections between human occupancy and architectural design. Through attention to detail and a subtle observational style, Johnson’s photographs are both intimate and ambiguous, revealing how the built environment becomes a space curated by its inhabitants. 

David Johnson completed an MFA in Visual Art from Washington University in St. Louis, MO (2007), and a BFA in Studio Art with an emphasis in Photography from Texas Christian University (2005). His work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, including: the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (2012); Boots Contemporary Art Space, St. Louis, MO (2010); Isolation Room at Sydhavn Station, Copenhagen, DK (2013); La Esquina, Kansas City, MO (2011); and Newspace Center for Photography, Portland, OR (2008);. In 2011, Johnson was awarded the Great Rivers Visual Arts Award from the Gateway Foundation (2011). Currently, Johnson is a Lecturer at Washington University in Saint Louis and Saint Louis University.

https://www.davidjohnsonstudio.com/