Reynolds Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of Just like forever, a solo exhibition of paintings by Ron Johnson.

For his 7th solo exhibition at Reynolds Gallery, Johnson presents Just like forever, a series of new paintings that capture Johnson's travels throughout the western United States. As Johnson road trips across the United States, he is inspired by the seemingly infinite landscapes, layers of history, and the habits of the wildlife surrounding him. During these excursions, Johnson appreciates the slowness of the natural forces he encounters, and allows himself to be fully immersed in the topography. The paintings all start from a snapshot of a scenic landscape that is then transferred onto the panel as a type of abstract silhouette.

Playful yet methodical, Ron Johnson’s process-driven work is defined by chance. Pouring pigmented polyurethane over wood panels, he investigates the effects of layering transparent color. In an Art Pulse interview, he states “The medium allows me to control (for the most part) this idea of translucency which in turn allows the viewer to access my work in layers. So viewers are literally able to see the archeology, or experience my thoughts in an archeology of seeing.” What they see is vibrant, abstracted landscapes simultaneously constrained and released in flowing pools of acrylic. Echoing Johnson’s observation that even though nature is constantly evolving, it all still manages to fit together.

A word from the artist

I paint ideas, experiences really...

Over the past twenty years I have driven out west to witness what I consider life enhancing events. This includes the vast western landscapes, called the Big sky. The land is immense and open, and visually seems to go on forever. So expansive I feel like I can see back in time. I believe there is an archaeology to seeing, for me it especially exists in the landscape of the western states. It is slow, there are layers, and it requires a space to dig. Within this space, a synchronicity occurs: the vast expanses and deep accompanying silence of this environment heighten all of the senses. This sensory enhancement that, ironically, springs from immense openness and extreme quiet.

The ideas are also, more recently, influenced by wildlife and what I have encountered. Watching wolves move across a valley, seeing grizzly moms and her cubs graze in a field. Experiencing these events has caused me to look more deeply and intently at subtle changes, visual and perceptual speeds in everything I see. There is always an element of time in my work, as I mentioned archeology earlier; the length of a day, visually the distance to mountain, watching how long it takes a predator to get to prey. In these moments time slows down for me...like an athlete understanding the game. The profound serenity of these moments has prompted keen responses within my senses. I think about the visible residue that occurs as I drive...where things were visible at one point they now have shifted in my movement, whether it’s a small or large move.

Through this “archeology of seeing” I am fascinated with how things fit together. Like a puzzle, or “puzzlization.” Slowly scanning the landscape, everything fits perfectly together: the sky always flawlessly “fits” into or at the horizon as if it were the correct puzzle piece. When I move, even within the fluctuation of the moment, the “piece” still fits, though shapes may slightly change or morph.

Ron Johnson received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ohio State University (1999) and Master of Fine Arts in Painting and Printmaking from Virginia Commonwealth University (2003). Johnson currently works as an assistant professor of arts at VCU and is the co-founder of the business Abstract Athlete. His work has been exhibited at Washington & Lee University, VCUarts Anderson Gallery, the Columbus Museum of Art, the Corcoran Gallery, and the Cite des Arts Gallery in Paris. His work is in numerous public and private collections including Altria Group, Capital One, the Federal Reserve Bank, and Markel Corporation.