CURRENT EXHIBITIONS:

Main Gallery & Project Space:

VERSE LIBRE

David Edward Johnson

6 February 2026 - 25 April 2026

Opening Reception: Friday, Februray 6, 2026 | 6-9PM

Mid-Exhibition Reception: Friday, March 6, 2026 | 6-9PM

Closing Reception: Friday, April 3, 2026 | 6-9PM

EXHIBITION STATEMENT

I am a great polyphonic listener of music. It stirs my psyche and I actually consider it a large part of my artistic practice -- a fuel of sorts. Much music operates on a purely visceral level, creating emotion through composition and insturmentation alone, but with a select group of artists the use of lyrical language raises the work to another level. These musical poets move minds as well as hearts, charting the soul itself through their words. In the first grouping of this work, I have created experiential portraits of 6 legendary writers from the musical sphere - Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Gil Scott-Heron, and Jim Morrison. Each portrait features a digital illustration I personally created coupled with both their words as well as the influences that shaped them as writers and elements of their work and legacy. Research is also a significant part of my practice and these works are certainly no exception. The resulting pieces are large-scale (60” x 72”) works on canvas, as highly layered as the subjects they depict and as vibrantly rendered and colored as their poetry. The series title, “VERSE LIBRE,” is a reference to “free verse,” a style of poetry from the 18th and 19th century poets who influenced many of the artists profiled here. It also speaks to a mindset. Each of these artists was profoundly free in execution and expression. This made their output so incredibly strong. For me, creating these was pure bliss and act as a fitting tribute to something I love.

ARTIST’S BIOGRAPHY

David Edward Johnson is a mixed media visual artist specializing in large-scale assemblage works. His work explores belief systems, the rise and fall of the American Dream, the nature of desire, and themes of identity and loss. At the intersection of the organic, iconic, abstract, and geometric, Johnson’s assemblages defy easy categorization and exist between mediums. His practice is rooted in three conceptual pillars: abstraction, definition, and deconstruction.

Johnson’s aesthetic is driven by the rhythmic, the esoteric, the poetic, and the intuitive — each element contributing to a visual language that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. His canvases reflect the sublime, evoke the mists of inner spaces, and often tap into motifs that feel intrinsically American. With a long background in both writing and design, Johnson’s abstract compositions are steeped in both conceptual and visual language.

His work has been exhibited solo at The Everson Museum of Art, and featured in galleries and juried exhibitions across the United States. He has participated in multiple editions of The Other Art Fair in various cities, and was featured on the album art for multi-platinum-selling musician Andy Grammer. Johnson was selected from over 100,000 artists for inclusion in the Saatchi Art catalog, has had work published in numerous art magazines and publications, and was chosen to participate in the prestigious London Art Biennale.

2ND FLOOR VIEWING ROOM:

WINTER SALON

7 November 2025 - 19 March 2026

Opening Reception: Friday, November 7, 2025 | 6-9PM Ongoing through March 19, 2026

A rotating group show throughout the winter months with recent works by Steve Carver, Ester Curini, Bruce Evans, NFN Kalyan, Lorena Kloosterboer, Cesar Santander & more…

Artsy: Online Exclusives

GALLERY HOURS

First Fridays

Monthly: 6 - 9 PM

Public Hours

Saturdays: 12 - 4 PM

Thursdays: 12 - 4PM

Anytime by appointment: To schedule your visit, email info@anthonybrunelli.com or call +1 607 772 0485

Public Hours subject to change during holidays & times of travel. We advise you call ahead prior to your visit.