Rashid Johnson was born in 1977 in Chicago IL.

Johnson is an African-American socio-political photographer, painter, and sculptor who produces conceptual post-black art. Johnson first received critical attention at age 24 when examples of his work were included in the exhibition “Freestyle,” curated by Thelma Golden at the Studio Museum in Harlem in 2001.

To make works like this one, Johnson begins with a wood flooring that is arranged in a geometric composition and sprayed with gold enamel paint. He then takes a blow torch to the surface and burns off almost all of the paint, leaving behind a golden aura with hints of colors left by the paint residue. He then applies his signature black soap and wax mixture. The abstracted form of these ‘characters’ was inspired in part by Johnson’s recent re-reading of the scene in Albert Camus’ ‘L‘Étranger’ when the rays of the sun obscure Meursault’s vision of the Arab.

Recent solo exhibitions include

Kunsthalle Winterthur, Winterthur, Switzerland (2015)
George Economou Collection in Athens, Greece (2014)
Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver CO (2014)
Hauser & Wirth Zurich (2013)
Ballroom Marfa, Marfa TX (2013)
South London Gallery, London, England (2012)
Hauser & Wirth New York NY (2012)
(Touring exhibition) ‘Message to Our Folks’

Figuration has played a significant role in Johnson’s work since the earliest days of his career – in a series of photographic portraits of homeless men in Chicago – but here it finds a place in his painting practice for the first time.