For more than two decades, Geoffrey Johnson has mesmerized viewers with his quietly introspective paintings that capture the mood and character of contemporary urban landscapes as well as private interior spaces. Using an impressionistic style, Johnson’s work lies in that seductive space between realism and abstraction. Much like Hopper before him, Johnson’s paitnings evoke the isolation and loneliness of the big city. Or the emotion of a classic interior.

Johnson’s love of high contrast and his fascination with the shape and form of the figure, along with his love of architecture, is evident as his inspiration. Drawn to New York City since childhood, he “wants to show people juxtaposed with the architecure,” using seasons, time of day, and color (or lack thereof) to “create different moods and feelings for each piece.”

While residing in his native North Carolina, the artist visits New York regularly, and has since age 9. In the sutdio, he tends to work on several paintings at once, sometimes up to 20 or 30, to keep ideas fresh and to avoid becoming stuck in one particular style. For Johnson, each painting “is 1000 different decisions, thoughts and feelings.” The result becomes timeless scenes “dancing on the water of abstraction or of just being.”