George Michael by Romano Johnson

30x40 Acrylic and glitter on canvas by Romano Johnson

Artist Statement:

“My gift was given to me from a golden brown American God.  When I was growing up I would go to church and look at the colors. When I think of God, I go to church and I pray, and I ask him to give me ideas and God gives me the gift of drawing in return. I knew that someday my art was going to be enjoyed by everybody around the world. They would love to see my colors and my ideas. Painting is something I’ve always liked doing. It makes me feel better. It makes me come up with ideas. When I draw and paint I’m always working for better ideas; blending colors, adding glitter, coming up with patterns. I need all of that canvas to communicate all of my ideas. I really love the big size because I have sort of superhero ideas about famous artists and singers. I want people to see that this is what I love doing, and what I always wanted to do."

Romano Johnson was born and raised on the north side of Chicago, and lives and works in Madison WI. Johnson has exhibited widely throughout Wisconsin and beyond, including in shows at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, the John Michael Kohler Art Center, The Museum of Wisconsin Artists, and the Trout Museum. He is represented by Portrait Society Gallery in Milwaukee, and works out of Artworking’s studio in Madison WI.