ARTIST STATEMENT
These works reflect the journey of the African American diaspora. Honoring our history while looking toward the future we continue to shape.
My artwork celebrates the Black experience, highlighting its beauty, resilience, and strength. Through mixed media—blending paint, paper, and fabric—I create layered pieces rich with meaning, honoring the complexities and triumphs of Black life in America. Each work tells a story, inviting reflection and connection.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Kelly Johnson is a self-taught artist who further developed her practice at the University of Louisville. Her work moves between two worlds: the sweeping wonders of the natural landscape and intimate portraits of Black American life — finding in both a sense of beauty, resilience, and quiet power.
Johnson works in mixed media, drawing on graphite, paint, and repurposed objects to build compositions rich in color, texture, and layered meaning. For her, the medium is never incidental: each material is chosen to deepen the story being told.
© Kelly Johnson