Al Johnson's art is an inclusive vision that captures the Classical, weaves it with the contemporary and refracts it through the prism of his remarkable individuality. While formally trained in the techniques of the Great Masters, he also uses his own stylistic vocabulary the way an Ornette Coleman would play with sounds, silences and noises to describe his own very personal world. Al Johnson’s art, in fact, goes to the essence of jazz in that it brings together many influences while celebrating the expression of individuality within the group often with startling originality. This primal tension between the individual and the group has been addressed in many ways. Al eschews the cool of a Miles Davis or the heated bebop of a Dizzy Gillespie and embraces the spirituality of a John Coltrane. The soulfulness that inspired Coltrane’s Love Supreme is the birthplace of Al Johnson’s vision of his fellow man, his experience of the universe and ultimately his art. 

These gifts led Mr. Johnson to study at Pratt Art Institute, the Albert Pale School of Commercial Arts and the Art Students League of New York under the instruction of Jack Faragaso. 

Mr. Johnson has been invited to exhibit in many corners of the world, including the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum in Japan. In addition, he created the original renderings for the Georgia Aquarium, the largest aquarium in the world.   His fine art continues to be shown and collected internationally, as he continues to create new visions in the feature film, television and music video industry.  You can view his commercial work in films such as “The Fountain” and the soon to be released film “After Life”, the national Van Heusen commercial aired during the Super Bowl and the HBO Chris Rock Special “Kill The Messenger”.  In addition, his permanently installed commissioned portrait of Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm is hung in Brooklyn Borough Hall.  The lists of his accomplishments are many as he inspires and motivates those to come.