Eric Johnson Art
#badmothersculpture
Johnson, Eric, Born 1969, Sculptor.
Eric grew up in Adamsville, Al. painting and sculpting anything and everything. Eric sampled formal art training in middle school and in college but found the process tedious and as a result it was short lived. In 1991 Eric gained representation from his first gallery as a painter. He painted in the evenings and worked as a heavy equipment designer during the day. In 1993 he began experimenting with metal sculpture. Soon after, he began sculpting full time, leaving the paint and canvases behind. Eric refined his unique style between 1993 and 2000. In 2001, he began searching for galleries to show his metal work. Since then he has gained representation in five states and is a regular at fine art shows and festivals around the southeast. In 2008 Eric left the design world behind and began a career as a full time artist. Now you may find him in his backyard studio at any hour of the day or night, surrounded by his three Australian shepherds, bringing into existence his latest idea. Eric’s work has won numerous awards and has been praised for its uniqueness and style. He has been interviewed by print, television and internet media about his work and process. He has shipped work all over the globe including Kobe, Japan and Scotland to name a few.
Eric lives with his wife Tonja just northeast of Birmingham, Alabama.
Artist statement:
I think of my work as playful despite the hard edges and sharp corners that define it. The finished idea is meant to be softer that the many harsh pieces that make it up. My work is based, primarily on what was on my mind that particular morning and rarely anything more than that. My studio is filled with random objects and collected metal that for the most part are the cast off bits of other artwork that create. I work alone (canines aside) surrounded by loud music and ideas. Some pieces come together quickly and some not. Some start out one thing and end up another. The fluidity of the process is appealing and rewarding. If the finished piece does not evoke an emotional response, it goes on the shelf and may possibly become something else entirely.
