Shaughnessy Johnson
Bio
Shaughnessy Johnson grew up in Evanston, Illinois where he spent a lot of time as a young child playing in the mud and taking apart toys and devices. He had his first art exhibit at the age of 10 when a mentor encouraged him to use his hands for creation instead of destruction.
Shaughnessy studied art at The Academy of Fine Arts in Chicago, IL and architecture and design in Tuskegee, AL. Although he explored many mediums, he favored wood, stand stone, metal and marble for his sculptures.
His artwork has been shown in many galleries and museums such as Avisca Gallery in GA, Satori Fine Arts Gallery and Dusable Museum in Chicago, IL, and Munster Museum in Indiana. He exhibited at the “Color” Art Expo by Oprah Winfrey and “The Palm Springs International Art Invitation” by Wesley Snipes. His work has been collected by Amoco Corporation, Michael and Juanita Jordan, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Keith Washington, and Danny Glover.
Shaughnessy has worked as an art instructor at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, an art dealer for the N’Namdi Gallery in Chicago, and an art consultant and art curator for Mamisi- Armen-Ra Films in New York and California. After moving to Atlanta, Georgia where he met his wife, Lisa Puzon, he and his wife taught art at Dixon School of the Arts in Pensacola, Florida and are now the art curators for Innisfree Hotels.
Today, Shaughnessy continues to create his art by combining his technical and artistic skills to create modern industrial kinetic sculptures as seen in the “Two Wings Exhibit” at Luna Fine Art Gallery.
Artist Statement
Working in the fine arts has always been a life long journey for me, in which I see no turning back. I have had the opportunity to explore its many mediums ranging from drawing, painting and sculpting, as well as computer graphics. It gives me the freedom as an individual to use my creativity and philosophy. My guiding light has been art when I could not see the direction in which I was headed. Like a loyal and devoted parent it was there for me when I needed it most. This is why I have chosen art as my life career and a means of expression in today’s society.
Expositions
Avisca Gallery, Marietta, GA
Gallery 88, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL
Birth of a Painting, Willard School Evanston, IL
Haven Exploration, Haven School Evanston, IL
Alabama Arts Council, Birmingham, AL
American Academy of Fine Arts Chicago, IL
Northern Indiana Arts Association Dealers’ Choice, Munster, Indiana
Satori Fine Arts, Chicago, IL
Noyes Cultural Arts Center
Fleetwood Jordain Art Guild Renaissance Sculpture Park, Evanston, IL
Faith Temple C.O.G.I.A Dedication Ceremony, “Upon This Rock” Sculpture, Evanston, IL
Natural Society for Black Engineers – “Logo” National Org.
Amoco Corporation, “A Rose By Any Other Name”, Chicago, IL
Supreme Court Justice - Clarence Thomas, Washington DC
Calvin Boston - Syndicated TV Host, Detroit MI
Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL, “Freeing Your Creative Instinct”, Instructor
Art “1998” Chicago
Navy Pier – Art Exhibitor, Chicago, IL
Celebrity Basketball - Allison Jordan, Craige Hodges – event
Oprah Winfrey “Color” Art Expo.
Mamisi- Armen Ra Films (Wesley Snipes), Art Consultant, Curator, Artist
Dr. Earl & Mrs. Essie, Woods Highland Pk IL
Michael and Juanita Jordan, “Queen” Sculpture, Highland Park, IL
Dennis Rodman, “Illusions” Sculpture, Chicago, IL
Christmas Twins – Back Stage Café, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Gwinnet County Senior Center, Mural, Lawrenceville, GA
Dr. Lisa Puzon, Studio, Stone Mountain, GA
Eric Evans, “City Streets” Family Matters, Chicago, IL
Exhibitions
Gallery 88, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL
Art Space International, Atlanta, GA.
The 26th Juried Student Annual Exhibition, The University of 2002 Alabama in Birmingham
Birmingham Art Association Gallery, Birmingham, AL
