Rashid Johnson (1977) seems to ride the trend of the new avant-gardes ofcontemporary art. Rising to prominence in the early 2000s, Johnson represents a fundamental chapter in the development of a new generation of black artists, who in recent years have finally been recognized and celebrated by institutions around the world. Johnson's breakthrough came in 2001, when at age 24 he was the youngest artist included in the legendary Freestyle exhibition curated by Thelma Golden at the Studio Museum in Harlem. In the years since, Johnson has emerged as a leading voice among contemporary artists and one of the world's most respected cultural figures. Operating seamlessly between painting, sculpture, video, installation and performance, Johnson's conceptual practice continues to evolve and expand, much like the constantly changing socio-political landscape that his work reflects.
Untitled Triangle Shelf (2009)
Painting, Mixed technique (black wax, spray paint enamel, bronze) 90 x 44 x 10 cm
Clearing price: €17.727 (£15.000) Price including charges: €22.159 (£18.750)
Estimate: €14.182 – €21.272 (£12.000 – £18.000)
CONTEMPORARY ART 17/10/2013 Phillips London, UK Signed “Rashid Johnson” / verso
For Lester (2011)
Painting, Mixed media (branded red oak flooring, black soap, wax in artist's frame), 154 x 154 x 6 cm
Clearing price: €48.264 ($60.000) Price including charges: €60.330 ($75.000)
Estimate: €48.264 – €64.352 ($60.000 – $80.000 )
contemporary art 12/11/2014 Sotheby's New York, United States
A major guideline in Johnson's work is the presence of the body, whether through image, form or gesture. Recent series focusing on the figure, including "Anxious Audiences"and "broken men“, which explore historical representations of black subjects and a broader examination of universal human experiences. In the specular reliefs, the viewer becomes the subject, our own reflection takes the place of Johnson's anxious figures. The mirrored surface makes the viewer perceive his own reflection chipped between splashes of black soap and melted wax, obscuring the viewer's identity and refusing any type of direct interpretation.
At the forefront of the contemporary art world
Within the diverse lexicon of signs and symbols that make up Johnson's diverse practice, these mirror works invite the viewer to participate as a central point of reference in his ever-expanding collection of cultural touchstones.
Untitled Anxious Drawing (2017)
Painting, Oil/cotton rag, 76 x 57 cm
Clearing price: €25.454 (£22.000) Price including charges: €31.818 (£27.500)
Estimate: €11.570 – €17.355 (£10.000 – £15.000)
Post-War & Contemporary, First Open 17/04/2018, Online Auction, Christie's, UK
Origin: Donated by the artist, courtesy Hauser & Wirth
In 2018 some of his works reach valuable prices and conquer the market like the work
Untitled Escape Collage (2018)
Painting, Mixed media (ceramic tile, mirror, vinyl, spray enamel, branded red oak flooring, oil stick, black soap and wax)/panel in artist's frame, 185,7 x 248,9 cm
Clearing price: €299.633 ($350.000)Price including charges: €370.261 ($432.500)
Estimate: €171.219 – €256.828 ($200.000 – $300.000 )
Post War to Present 27/09/2018 Christie's New York, United States
Origin: Donated by the artist, Hauser & Wirth, New York and David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles
Records in the millions
Investment Valuation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Next auction July 13 Phillips London|New York
mirrored tile, black wax and soap mounted on panel
174.7 x 174.7 cm (68 3/4 x 68 3/4 in.)
Executed in 2013. Estimate £80,000 – 120,000
As the leading artist of his generation, Johnson's work has been exhibited in major institutions around the world, including recent solo presentations at the Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas; Storm King Art Center, New Windsor; Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville; MoMA PS1, Long Island City; Tamayo Museum, Mexico City; and the Aspen Art Museum, Aspen. His work is in the permanent collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Guggenheim Museum, New York; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago. His first feature film, an adaptation of Richard Wright's Native Son, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was released on HBO in 2019.
