Dean Johnson is a third-generation artist who began painting at the age of seven by his father’s side. Johnson established his reputation in New York at the age of eighteen with his own unique style and while still only 22 was featured in a one-man art show at the famed Stricoff Gallery in SOHO. This made Dean the youngest artist at the time to have a show in Soho.

Johnson credits the post-1950s modern artists Frank Stella and Joan Mitchell as his main influences. He says, “I am inspired by Mitchell’s colors. While not a primary palette, they seem to express a vivid spectrum.” On Stella, Dean comments “Frank Stella’s works have always inspired my art. His multidimensional pieces really got to me and kept me up at night. Upon seeing The Science of Laziness at 17 years old, I knew this was my life’s work.”

Dean works out of his Westhampton Beach studio on Long Island, producing art for prominent galleries, private collectors, and corporate customers in New York, Florida, California, and globally. His one-of-a-kind pieces have caught the eye of Jack Nicholson, Howard Stern, Eddie Murphy, Woody Allen, Missy Elliot, LeeAnn Rimes, and several NFL, NBA, and MLB stars, among many others, all proud owners of Dean Johnson’s work.

Today Dean’s art stands out and demands notice for its vibrant color, and the joining of old and new mediums in a distinct and original way. Johnson’s sculptures speak of understated motion and grace and critics have applauded his startling ability to combine mediums, shapes, and abstract illusion. The three-dimensional harmony of Dean’s art has produced works of astonishing emotion that remain unique in the art world. His latest works embody the elegance and beauty of reclaimed wood and modern mediums. Recent pieces of his have been featured in the New York Art Expo, Art Context in Miami, and within Stony Brook University’s permanent collection.

Dean Johnson is now recognized as one of the leaders in the new modern classic movement.