ABOUT
Wiley Johnson is a talented 38 year old artist who has autism spectrum disorder. He lives alone and doesn’t drive. He cannot live and work truly independently as an artist living with autism. Wiley had a dream that painting would be his profession and the dream has come true! He is only able to continue his dream through the support of his family and those who buy his art. Wiley's Abstract Art, LLC is the entity used to manage and sell Wiley’s paintings.
Wiley has no formal art training. He started painting as a hobby approximately 2009. He enjoys painting acrylic on canvas, abstract style, but also likes painting on recycled materials and small wooden crafts. He has participated multiple times in the “Brushes with Life" art exhibition at NC Neurosciences Hospital in Chapel Hill and exhibited at a number of art galleries and events in the Raleigh, NC area over the years.
2020 was a year of transformation for Wiley from a hobbyist painter to an emerging artist. He had his first solo exhibition in January 2020 at the Woman's Club of Raleigh and his second solo exhibition February and March 2020 at MOFU restaurant, Raleigh, NC. He had paintings accepted into juried calls in 4 separate NC galleries in 2020: Golden Belt Grand Gallery and the Power Plant Gallery in Durham, NC as well as Trade Alley Gallery in Hickory, NC, and 311 Gallery in Raleigh, NC. Wiley was also the featured artist for Arts Access's Fall ASK campaign, 2020.
Wiley was honored to have a solo exhibition with the Durham Art Guild March 2021 at the Golden Belt Gallery. He also had paintings exhibited in group exhibitions at Visual Art Exchange, the Block Gallery and Compass Rose Brewery in Raleigh, NC. in 2021. He was a featured artist at Esteamed Coffee in Cary, NC and was featured with Mar Hester at the grand opening of Charlotte Russell Contemporary Gallery in Raleigh. Wiley had paintings selected in other juried calls at the Yadkinville, NC Cultural Arts Center and Floyd, VA Center for the Arts where he received an Honorable Mention for a national art call. He currently has paintings displayed at Chelsea Cafe, Durham, NC as well as Lucky Tree Coffee Shop, Industrious, and Artspace, Raleigh, NC. as well as the ArtAbility exhibition at Bryn Marr Rehabilitation Hospital, Malvern, PA.
Fashion designers from Le Galeriste, a company in Montreal, Canada, have included Wiley’s designs in art-derived fashion and home products which can be found at https://www.legaleriste.com/wiley.johnson. He is the first NC artist selected by ArtLifting, a US company which “…Connects Socially Conscious Companies With Talented Artists Impacted by Homelessness Or Disabilities.” His personal collection represented by ArtLifting can be found at https://www.artlifting.com/collections/wiley-johnson Gigantic reproductions of Wiley’s paintings have been installed at Chase Bank, 725 9th St., Durham, NC, Sutton Square, Raleigh, NC, and Fifth Third Bank Wake Forest, NC by ArtLifting. Check out Wiley's Interview from the Garner Performing Arts Center below.
Wiley has no formal art training. He started painting as a hobby approximately 2009. He enjoys painting acrylic on canvas, abstract style, but also likes painting on recycled materials and small wooden crafts. He has participated multiple times in the “Brushes with Life" art exhibition at NC Neurosciences Hospital in Chapel Hill and exhibited at a number of art galleries and events in the Raleigh, NC area over the years.
2020 was a year of transformation for Wiley from a hobbyist painter to an emerging artist. He had his first solo exhibition in January 2020 at the Woman's Club of Raleigh and his second solo exhibition February and March 2020 at MOFU restaurant, Raleigh, NC. He had paintings accepted into juried calls in 4 separate NC galleries in 2020: Golden Belt Grand Gallery and the Power Plant Gallery in Durham, NC as well as Trade Alley Gallery in Hickory, NC, and 311 Gallery in Raleigh, NC. Wiley was also the featured artist for Arts Access's Fall ASK campaign, 2020.
Wiley was honored to have a solo exhibition with the Durham Art Guild March 2021 at the Golden Belt Gallery. He also had paintings exhibited in group exhibitions at Visual Art Exchange, the Block Gallery and Compass Rose Brewery in Raleigh, NC. in 2021. He was a featured artist at Esteamed Coffee in Cary, NC and was featured with Mar Hester at the grand opening of Charlotte Russell Contemporary Gallery in Raleigh. Wiley had paintings selected in other juried calls at the Yadkinville, NC Cultural Arts Center and Floyd, VA Center for the Arts where he received an Honorable Mention for a national art call. He currently has paintings displayed at Chelsea Cafe, Durham, NC as well as Lucky Tree Coffee Shop, Industrious, and Artspace, Raleigh, NC. as well as the ArtAbility exhibition at Bryn Marr Rehabilitation Hospital, Malvern, PA.
Fashion designers from Le Galeriste, a company in Montreal, Canada, have included Wiley’s designs in art-derived fashion and home products which can be found at https://www.legaleriste.com/wiley.johnson. He is the first NC artist selected by ArtLifting, a US company which “…Connects Socially Conscious Companies With Talented Artists Impacted by Homelessness Or Disabilities.” His personal collection represented by ArtLifting can be found at https://www.artlifting.com/collections/wiley-johnson Gigantic reproductions of Wiley’s paintings have been installed at Chase Bank, 725 9th St., Durham, NC, Sutton Square, Raleigh, NC, and Fifth Third Bank Wake Forest, NC by ArtLifting. Check out Wiley's Interview from the Garner Performing Arts Center below.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Most of my abstract paintings are filled with bright colors that make me happy. I use broad strokes of acrylic paint on canvas, but sometimes I paint on small wooden crafts or recycled materials. I don't like the smell of oil paint, but I like the way that acrylic paint flows off my brushes and dries faster. My paintings are unplanned. I never know how they will end until the colors ”pop.” Use your imagination when you look at my paintings.
I have autism spectrum disorder and don’t drive. I am inspired and motivated to paint because it makes me happy and gives me something to do when I am alone. My only sibling and best friend, Zach, was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2011. I was more isolated then, particularly since I don't drive. I found myself painting more. The isolation of my studio gave me freedom to create. My paint and canvas do not judge me because I have a disability. Painting helped me get through a really difficult time just like it helps me deal with everyday problems. Painting is my profession and a big part of my therapy. Painting helped me get to a happier place in my life.
I have always been isolated due to my disability. My autism has made it difficult for me to hold down even a traditional part time job, but It makes me happy to hear people say that they like my art. Art connects me to my community and to the larger art world. I am grateful for the opportunities that art gives me.
I have autism spectrum disorder and don’t drive. I am inspired and motivated to paint because it makes me happy and gives me something to do when I am alone. My only sibling and best friend, Zach, was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2011. I was more isolated then, particularly since I don't drive. I found myself painting more. The isolation of my studio gave me freedom to create. My paint and canvas do not judge me because I have a disability. Painting helped me get through a really difficult time just like it helps me deal with everyday problems. Painting is my profession and a big part of my therapy. Painting helped me get to a happier place in my life.
I have always been isolated due to my disability. My autism has made it difficult for me to hold down even a traditional part time job, but It makes me happy to hear people say that they like my art. Art connects me to my community and to the larger art world. I am grateful for the opportunities that art gives me.
Press
Garner Performing Arts Center Interview, 2020
|
|