Justin, originally from Maryland/Washington, DC, currently lives and works in Boise, ID. His body of work focuses on abstract expressionist painting with mixed media that forms from evolving gestural forms and building paint—employing methods of layering and subtracting, scouring, sanding, or chemical process to expose the otherwise hidden parts just beneath the surface.
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Inspired by society, psychology, and human nature, he brings various elements into his work. Vacillating between chaotic moments and the more subdued, where the exchange of color feels like it could be ruminating over minutia, yet it is anything but accidental. All of which is redolent of communication both with others as well ourselves.
My work forms in gray matter, I pluck out the pearls, I sort out the rotten parts, regurgitate, lather, rinse, repeat. Interpersonal relationships, textual translations, and pixelated information make up our evolving social normative models, mine being no different. I often search for patterns behind the process. Sometimes to close the loop, sometimes to break it.
Reflection, distortion, emotion litter my process with random synaptic firings like land mines, but it’s all a necessary means to connect the dots in my attempt to form a connection. I see it as this type of kaleidoscope where I examine the mundane day-to-day, where I find beauty in the banal or miserable. As a way of acceptance, rather than ignorance, then pushing past and moving beyond.
Justin W John was born on the U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay in the Philippines in 1981. He grew up on the East Coast in Virginia and Maryland. His artistic talents lead him to study art and graphic design at the Maryland Institute, College of Art in Baltimore, MD; he received his BFA the spring of 2003.
Shortly thereafter, Justin relocated to Washington, D.C. and began his career as a freelance graphic/web designer. He was quickly picked up by Aquent and through them gained experience in publishing and in-house corporate design. Soon his clients included B.E.T., The Peace Corps, McGraw-Hill Publishing and more.
With his young creative spirit and passion for music he was also involved with Baltimore and D.C.’s vibrant music scenes by working with a few production companies as a promoter.
While freelancing, Justin also put his creative efforts into the retail service industry. His eye for art and design easily translated into fashion styling and merchandising. He held creative and management roles with Urban Outfitters, Pottery Barn, and FLOR (Interface).
In 2014, Justin moved cross-country to Boise, Idaho to be closer to family.
In 2018, he established his art business in Boise and has been exploring the lengths of his entrepreneurial spirit since. Currently, he lives and creates his work in his studio space located in Boise’s historic Idanha Hotel.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
Concentration in Digital Media Arts
Studied under Ellen Lupton [*]
Seymour Mandelbaum Merit Award
Graphic Design Department Recognition Award
Dean’s List (x4)
Group exhibition
Presented by Saatchi Art
Group online art fair
Featured in Curated Collections —
Cold War-Era Nostalgia, Contemplative & Calm Abstracts, Make A Statement, New Pop Art
Group online exhibition
Group online exhibition
Presented by Treasure Valley Artist Alliance
Group exhibition + online exhibition
Group exhibition
Billings, MT
Group show
Boise, ID
Group exhibition
Billings, MT
Group exhibition
Boise, ID
Group exhibition
Billings, MT
Group show
Los Angeles, CA
Group show
Garden City, ID
Solo exhibition
Boise, ID
Group exhibition
Washington, DC
Group exhibition + online auction
Benefit auction
Garden City, ID
January 2021
pp . 40-41.
January 2020
pp . 29, 38, 51.
2020.
January 2019
pp 17, 41.
Vol. 26 Issue 49
Arts & Culture
May 23, 2018.
PDF format, 526 KB
Last update: January 28th, 2019
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