Westport Connecticut artist presents his latest collection in abstract expressionism at the nation’s largest international fine art marketplace, October 28—31, 2021

Abstract painter, David Stephen Johnson, will be making his debut in New York with his latest collection of abstract expressionism at Artexpo New York, taking place at Pier 36 in Manhattan, October 28—31, 2021. This is David’s first solo show in New York following his European Summer tour: in Paris at the Galerie Sonia Monti, with a group exhibition at Galeria Azur in Madrid, and at the International Contemporary Art Fair in Paris with the Van Gogh Gallery from Spain.

Johnson will be presenting his most recent large-scale canvas works that explore the unpredictable path of creativity. This new series of paintings have all departed from a vague idea and begin with a simple stroke or a divergent line. Drawing a parallel with life, these works change direction leading us into the uncertain. Guided by intuition, there are no rules or preconceived notions of a desired destination. During flow state, the artist detaches from his own presence and allows the materials to do the work. In the midst of all the noise, blank spaces are intentionally made as a manifestation of silence and grounding.

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to show my latest series at Artexpo New York,” said David. “After more than a year into the Pandemic and having experienced countless lockdowns and show cancellations, being able to gather again and share a cultural event with the exchange of ideas this entails feels like an energy boost to keep creating. Most of these works were made during the stay-at-home orders, so there’s an element of living with the unpredictable that transferred onto the works.”

David Stephen Johnson (b. Pittsburgh, 1949) is an abstract painter based in Westport, Connecticut. He was awarded a scholarship to college as a star quarterback, playing for South Dakota State, and later earned his BA in Business Administration at the University of Minnesota, Carlton School of Business. He lived in Chicago in the 1970s and shared studio space with a sculptor at the Chicago Art Institute.

David fostered his love for art while developing a series of paintings for his first show at Riverside Gallery in Chicago. While raising his family, he continued a successful career in advertising between Miami and New York for the prestigious agency Lord, Geller, Federico, Einstein. He embraced his self-taught path in painting, building a deliberately unpublished body of work studying color and shape, partly influenced by post-war abstract expressionists.

His natural athleticism and grace led him toward the great action painters. In 2017 he retired from the business to pursue his passion for painting. He joined The Silvermine Art Center in Connecticut, a prestigious institute for the arts created in 1908 by the sculptor Solon Borglum. Since then, he has participated in numerous exhibitions, expanding his work to large-scale canvases. In 2019 he had his first solo show at Southport Galleries, CT and debuted with a Solo Project at Miami Art Week.

In 2020 he participated in numerous exhibitions: first at the Intersect Aspen Art Fair. Next, the acclaimed Hamptons Virtual Art Fair where he was selected by their curator as “Featured Artist to Watch.” His European debut was marked by a group show in 2021 at Galerie Sonia Monti in Paris. Next was an invitation from the renowned Latin American gallery and auction house Galeria Azur, at their most recently inaugurated location in Madrid, Spain. Following the success of this group show, the gallery decided to include David in their permanent representation roster. Van Gogh Art Gallery, also located in Madrid, selected David’s work to be presented at the International Contemporary Art Fair in Paris that took place in September this year. Later this month, David’s participation at Artexpo New York will be his debut in New York City, presenting his most recent solo Project.

Artexpo New York will take place Thursday, Oct. 28 to Sunday, Oct. 31 at Pier 36 in Manhattan. A General Admission 1-day ticket for Artexpo New York on Friday, Oct. 29 to Sunday, Oct. 31 is $25.00. A Total Ticket 3-day pass for Artexpo New York, valid Friday, Oct. 29 thru Sunday, Oct. 31 is $40.00. For further information on Artexpo New York or to purchase tickets, please visit here

For further information on David Stephen Johnson, please visit the website and follow him on Instagram