Johansen Newman | Artist Profile Photo
Johansen Newman
Woodbury, Connecticut
Artist Johansen Newman captures various characters through charming scenes that often weave nostalgia. A reflection of her fondness for edge and funk prevails in her dynamic portrayal of humans with animals and objects of their affection. As a toddler, her mother gave her crayons and allowed her to draw on the walls of her room. She pursued a degree in painting and printmaking, then furthered her education by studying with Bil Baird at his puppet theater in New York, ultimately forming her puppet troupe. Years of crafting puppets, designing scenery, writing stories, and performing shows developed her arsenal of skills—going on to be an award-winning fiber artist exhibiting throughout North America. She integrates these learnings into her current art practice. "My paintings capture fragments of a tale in a time and place that was, is, or has the promise to become," says Johansen. She works at her studio and display gallery at Gorse Mill Studios, a 19th Century textile mill building in Needham, MA. Her woodworking shop doubles as her home studio, where she constantly evolves her compositions to satisfy her aesthetic. Johansen's work has been featured on the cover of local publications, in pictorial essays, and toured museums across the United States. She was a professional and published illustrator for more than 35 years, including two dozen children's books, three of which she also wrote. Besides creating art, she finds herself an enthusiast of vintage collectibles, jukeboxes, signages, tin toys, neon lights, cookie jars, carnival chalkware, folk art, and an eclectic collection of fine crafts.
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Artist Statement

I paint people and objects of their affection to capture the essence of a character at a memorable moment in time and space. My figurative and narrative paintings are rich with details that reflect my fondness for edge and funk. I often weave relics of the past into my compositions by mark-making or assemblage, sometimes using architectural salvage or other found objects of past purposes and former lives. In this way, my paintings capture fragments of a tale in a time and place that was, or is or has the promise to become.

Artist Background

SUNY Buffalo
Bachelor of Fine Arts, 1975

Press

Needham Creates: Artist Profile- Johansen Newman
Needham Artist: Barbara Johansen Newman - Youtube
Barbara Johansen Newman drawn to capturing the essence of people in portraits
Surreal Portraiture, Evolving Style, and Inspiration
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