Stacey-Robin Johnson

Since first creating collages in 2004, I have come to view the medium as a metaphor for life: parts of diverse elements come together to create a larger whole. My work deals with themes of spirituality, relationships and intimacy; historical perspective, social commentary and personal remembrance. As an African-American woman and a Christian, I feel a sense of responsibility to create images that honor my heritage and my faith, while remaining candid about the individual and collective challenges and triumphs which shape everyday life.

Naturally curious, I am driven to experiment with thought, ideas and beliefs. I don't believe there is such thing as a 'new' idea, there are, however, an infinitesimal number of possible interpretations of what has always been. Color serves as a type of language through which I can convey emotion, mood and state of being. The intricacies of the methods employed foster an intimacy with the work which I aim to pass on to the viewer by inspiring curiosity, inviting them to engage in a multi-sensory experience using sight and touch.

I embrace a simple philosophy about art: it need not always make a statement. However, it should always inspire thought and spark a degree of curiosity. This philosophy gives license to indulge my imagination, allowing a large measure of experimentation to find its way into everything I create.

Biography
Stacey-Robin H. Johnson is a self-taught mixed-media artist, living and creating in New York City. A native of Harlem, Johnson's work illuminates the mundane and the mystical aspects of life.

Johnson was born in Harlem, New York City and lived in the General Grant Housing Projects (and later Washington Heights) with an extended family that included her grandparents, aunts and an uncle.

Growing up in New York City, afforded Johnson opportunities to experience various art forms such as writing and singing. Johnson received a Bachelor of Arts degree in contemporary media from S.U.N.Y. Empire State College in 2002, after studying communication arts at Marymount Manhattan College. Presently, Johnson is pursuing a graduate degree in Pastoral Care and Counseling at Fordham University.

Johnson’s introduction to mixed-media collage came in 2004, an event which she describes as an "epiphany." One how-to book, some canvas and a vivid imagination launched her life and career as an artist. A self-taught collage artist with no formal training in the visual arts, she always enjoyed painting, drawing as well as, arts and crafts including textile arts such as crocheting and knitting. In mixed-media collage she discovered a home for of all of her artistic abilities: "In collage, I can and paint, draw, cut, tear, manipulate images and still create visual harmony, beauty. With collage, being a jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none is an attribute, as there is a place for everything one knows how to do. The only limitation is the imagination."

Unique attributes of Johnson's creations are color, texture and stunning detail which combine to create thought-provoking narratives. Through imagery, Johnson explores themes of spirituality, intimacy and relationships historical perspective, social commentary and personal remembrance. Johnson's work contributes to an ever evolving black aesthetic that celebrates the breadth of the Black experience.