JARRETT ELLIS
THEOTIS BEASLEY
DEVIN B. JOHNSON
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BEYOND MEASURE:
DEVIN B. JOHNSON WEARS HIS TALENT AS A
2023 DEVIN B. JOHNSON
HOUSE TOUR
The Magnum™ brand talked to the creative about honoring culture, memory fueling his work and what the American Dream means to him.
Hooper. Actor. Artist.
JarretT Ellis is a young multihyphenate making his mark in entertainment AND art.
DEVIN B. JOHNSON IS A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ARTIST BASED IN NEW YORK CITY whose works have been displayed in spaces like the Hammer Museum, LACMA, the Rubell Museum and more. Johnson is renowned for his use of deep textures, referencing personal and cultural histories as the creative layers in his compositions. Additionally, Johnson provides a visceral view of the Black experience, often alluding to the music, sports and places that have profound meaning in his own life.
Along with the accolades he’s received, the LA-born artist is even more proud of the pieces he’s created that now reflect his own sense of achievements. It’s all a product of his hard work and he gave the MAGNUM™ Brand an inside look at his creative process. At his home studio, Johnson talked about his origin story, what it means to be a young Black artist and also showed some personal items that give his life meaning.
Memory, whether personal or historical, has a lot to do with Johnson’s visual style. By layering themes attached to memories in his pieces, the 31-year-old artist is able to filter and tap into the subconscious, whether his own or the viewers’. “The subconscious is something we're not necessarily able to control, but it is something that houses a lot of what we experience,” Johnson explains. “We are like the cities we live in. There’s decay in the streets and maybe the subway stations have been painted over and advertisements altered or peeled back. Those textures are what I attribute in my paintings. I maximize layers to provide a long and intentional view of my works.”
Elsewhere on Johnson’s wall is another piece titled “Hang Time.” The work was one of the first pieces he made during the first semester of his MFA program. As a Black artist, Johnson paints themes related to Black culture and the Black experience to honor his own identity. “Hang Time” can mean a multitude of things. “We were watching a pick up basketball game and I took a video of this cat winding up to dunk,” Johnson explained his process. “I took screenshots of his jump and juxtaposed it with the cornrows down his neck. “Hang Time” is the duality of ascension where you have someone dunking in an upward then downward movement while his hair is also growing downward.” Johnson honors himself as a young Black artist by conveying his culture throughout his pieces. “For me, as a representative of all the filters of experiences of being an African-American in these times, I myself am a representative of moving forward,” Johnson said. “What it means to be prosperous in America, the American dream, is something that we all strive for. And I think that for me and my family as a firstborn son, I'm representative of these American values.”
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JARRETT ELLIS
After walking away from college ball, Ellis used his time in art class to make a miniature basketball hoop for a project. “It was a found art project and we had to find stuff to make something,” Ellis said about the art assignment. “I knew I wanted to keep my hoop dream alive and I just worked on it. I wanted it to be like the crossover of fashion and luxury and wanted to create something that was both luxury and basketball.” This is where it all began for Ellis and he made the bold decision to start Hoop Dream Studios to keep his passion for basketball alive in a more creative form.
Visit the official Trojan Brands website for more information on the Magnum™ brand. Look for Magnum™ condoms wherever condoms are sold.
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THEOTIS BEASLEY
DEVIN B. JOHNSON
DEVIN B. JOHNSON
DEVIN B. JOHNSON
THEOTIS BEASLEY
THEOTIS BEASLEY
JARRETT ELLIS
JARRETT ELLIS
Johnson, who’s been named an Artsy Vanguard and included in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for Art and Design, wears his talent like a badge of honor.
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In the art world, stories of starving and struggling artists are common. At one point, in order to fund his passion, Johnson supported himself in LA by making food deliveries while interning at various art galleries. It wasn’t until he took a leap of faith, making the move from LA to NYC, that he was able to change his life’s trajectory. “I was doing Instacart and interning at gallery spaces while trying to curate my own stuff,” Johnson said. “I exhausted a lot of my options and so the last option was to go to New York to gamble on what I think I can accomplish. It’s changed my life and my family's lives completely.” Since his move to NYC in 2017, Johnson obtained his Master’s degree at Pratt and has also completed various solo and group shows around the U.S. and the world. He’s been interviewed by top art media platforms and continues to receive awards for his prolific works.
As related to memory, honor is also embedded within Johnson’s personal and artistic growth. He wears his talent like a badge of honor, his skill sets are a reminder of his upbringing and the people that have encouraged him to pursue his goals. On the wall at his home are keepsakes that remind Johnson of his career and personal journey. One of his own paintings at home was made to honor his grandfather and his passing – the piece utilizes rush and drag paint strokes to symbolize the emotions of loss. “That work is part of me, personally,” Johnson said. “My grandfather was important to me because he was the first to take me to art school and my classes when I was seven-years-old. My grandparents are integral to me becoming an artist. He died when my works were just starting to show up at museums.”
Devin B. Johnson has already taken the art world by storm with his visceral portrayal of the Black experience in his abstract and symbolic works. And he’s literally only getting started. However, when asked about how he measures his own success, Johnson says that longevity is how his personal achievements can be quantified, alluding to what his impact as an artist can achieve in the future. “I would say longevity,” Johnson answered. “I don’t believe in trends and I want people to see and grow with me as I understand myself as an artist. I hope that my legacy can be solidified in the history books to some degree and my works can influence future generations at some point.”
THEOTIS BEASLEY
JARRETT ELLIS
DEVIN B. JOHNSON
As related to memory, honor is also embedded within Johnson’s personal and artistic growth. He wears his talent like a badge of honor, his skill sets are a reminder of his upbringing and the people that have encouraged him to pursue his goals. On the wall at his home are keepsakes that remind Johnson of his career and personal journey. One of his own paintings at home was made to honor his grandfather and his passing – the piece utilizes rush and drag paint strokes to symbolize the emotions of loss. “That work is part of me, personally,” Johnson said. “My grandfather was important to me because he was the first to take me to art school and my classes when I was seven-years-old. My grandparents are integral to me becoming an artist. He died when my works were just starting to show up at museums.”
Elsewhere on Johnson’s wall is another piece titled “Hang Time.” The work was one of the first pieces he made during the first semester of his MFA program. As a Black artist, Johnson paints themes related to Black culture and the Black experience to honor his own identity. “Hang Time” can mean a multitude of things. “We were watching a pick up basketball game and I took a video of this cat winding up to dunk,” Johnson explained his process. “I took screenshots of his jump and juxtaposed it with the cornrows down his neck. “Hang Time” is the duality of ascension where you have someone dunking in an upward then downward movement while his hair is also growing downward.” Johnson honors himself as a young Black artist by conveying his culture throughout his pieces. “For me, as a representative of all the filters of experiences of being an African-American in these times, I myself am a representative of moving forward,” Johnson said. “What it means to be prosperous in America, the American dream, is something that we all strive for. And I think that for me and my family as a firstborn son, I'm representative of these American values.”
THEOTIS BEASLEY
JARRETT ELLIS
DEVIN B. JOHNSON
