Glue is the new exhibit of paintings by local artist Anthony Johnson, now on view at the venerableLeft of Center Galleryand with anopening reception at 6 p.m. Friday. Johnson’s work, photorealistic portraits of Black figures, together examine the struggles and strengths of the Black community. But, he seems to make clear, they’re paintings as art as much as message.
🖌️ How do you choose your subjects?
I choose my subjects by the amount of contrast in what I see, because I like the way light and darkness plays a drama effect on the eye. (And in the case of a subject like murdered rapper Nipsey Hustle, above) also the cultural impact he had upon his demise.
🖌️ What do you want the viewer to think, feel, or understand when they engage with your work?I want them to determine what the focal point is of the painting and try to feel what’s most important and what’s least important by the brushstrokes of a painting.
🖌️ You're in waste management, which sounds demanding; how do you balance that with the demands of being an artist?
As a middle-class, blue-collar worker, this is how I have maintained living a decent lifestyle for myself and my family. I don’t know any other way to spend my time other than trying to manage my time to do things that are priority and pleasure. It’s a constant struggle because I also run a local organization called selfreparations.org and try to do lightweight activism as well. I just have that energy, focus and determination.
