Meet The Artist
Adia Johnson (b.2002) is an African American painter from Los Angeles. She currently resides in Tempe, Arizona, and is pursuing a BFA in Painting and Drawing at Arizona State University. She is expected to graduate in 2027. Her work has been featured in various exhibitions, including Art Night at Walter Studios.
Artist Statement
My work brushes against the wall of confrontation. It gives you comfort and discomfort at the same time. My work is heavily inspired by inherited religious beliefs, as well as self-taught beliefs. I'm exploring what it means to associate with religion in today's age and through the lens of Gen Z. My family is either strict about how religion should be practiced or loose in the sense of personal connection. Not everything is what it seems, so religion shouldn't be placed in a black and white box.
I utilize bright colors to make religious topics more digestible. It's taboo because of the different generational relationships in regard to religion. I'm a mixed media artist. I use soft and abrupt brush strokes to convey confrontation. The abruptness is exposure to the viewer. I'm not here to convey something untrue. Both soft and abrupt build on the fact that faith can be rigid and loose. Acrylic, oil paint, and molding paste are a common combination to create tug of war in my paintings.
CV
Education
2027 BFA (Painting and Drawing) Arizona State University Tempe, AZ
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2026 Winter Juried Exhibition, Harry Wood Gallery, Tempe, AZ
2025 Creatures and Cosmos, Vision Gallery, Chandler, AZ
2024 The Nomadic Art Exhibition, Reeves Studio, Phoenix, AZ
2024 Prom Night, Walter Studios, Phoenix, AZ
2024 Aqua, Walter Studios, Phoenix, AZ