Christopher Johnson
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" I Know I Can"
2020
Mural
6ft x 14ft
https://www.instagram.com/p/CHQERfMh_od/
Grace to the @gwccbaltimore commissioning this piece of creative freedom exemplifying excellence and engagement. This original piece speaks on the narrative of youth influence in and outside of the community while confronting stereotypes. At the top stands the Executive Director @kisha.webster who entrusted my vision to fortify her’s in this mural photographed by the talented @niyvmi
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"Soul Train" Exhibition
The Keswick Wise & Well Center is pleased to present Soul Train, featuring the work of Chris ‘KOLPEACE’ Johnson, one of two 20/21 Libby Bowerman Community Art Teaching Fellows working on the Keswick campus this year. Get down with KOLPEACE "Soul Train.” Bringing life back to the art world, making the wall bounce with color and character, preserving the lives of African-American influencers through the performances & sound of music that has influenced his art practice.
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"Testify" Exhibition
Statement
One has to protect the genius of the work created without being so enthusiastic to hand the heart of it out so quickly no matter how much of what's desired. Can't always be quick to hand one’s heart to the world to folks that don't know how to hold it. While painting on the surface across the raw organs of a canvas is an introductory trap, trill & soul renaissance of the “trap, trill, & soul” (genre of music reflected on black southern stories and folk tales) of my work. I have taken a visual evolution to bring respect to my southerness with banter and storytelling with a brush in a classical/opera like dynamic. Implementing black acrylic paint to stroke a monochromatic style looked on a primed environmentally friendly piece of wood while implementing the prejudice of the young to elder black folk who influence my portrait like tributes. The performative aspect of this body of work taps into the diaspora of black folk tales. The combination of melody , radical rhythmic performative movement, community engagement and elemental products such as acrylic paints, aerosol spray paint to build metamorphoses is the reason the name kolpeace (artist name used in performative trap, trill, and soul opera works).
Community Arts (MFA) Students