christy dehoog johnson
Color is the springboard for my work. As a method of communicating with viewers color can be a powerful (or subtle) tool.
Drawing on my experience as a former illustrator, I use an array of media and a finely honed visual vocabulary to connect with viewers on multiple levels. Over the last several years my work has transitioned into abstraction, as I push the process of playing with line and shape over fields of color. Compositions both large and small invite the viewer to approach, investigate, and discover the surprisingly sophisticated mark-making that is visible only from an intimate distance.
EDUCATION
2018
Aesthetic Education training
1999
Master of Fine Arts in Illustration, California State University, Long Beach, California
1997
Hallmark Summer Internship Program, Hallmark, Inc., Kansas City, Missouri
1992
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration, Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, Michigan
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2018
Holland Area Arts Council, "Out of Line", four-person exhibit, Holland Michigan
2017
Arts Council of White Lake, "Change of Seasons", juried exhibition, Whitehall Michigan, received First Place Award
2016
Lafontsee Galleries, "micro macro" solo exhibition, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Holland Area Arts Center, "All Michigan Juried Exhibition", Holland, Michigan;
recieved Third Place Award
2015
Holland Area Arts Center, “All Michigan Juried Exhibition”, Holland, Michigan;
received Third Place Award
Midland Center for the Arts, “54th Greater Michigan Art Exhibition”, juried exhibition, Midland, Michigan
Tvedten Fine Art Gallery, “Small Works”, Harbor Springs, Michigan
Lafontsee Galleries, “Everyone in the Pool”, Douglas, Michigan
2014
Forest Hills Fine Arts Center, solo exhibition, Ada, Michigan
Lafontsee Galleries, “Modern Twist”, Douglas, Michigan
2013
Lafontsee Galleries, “New Work”, Douglas, Michigan
2012
Nuveen Center for the Arts, “Artprize Reprise”, Whitehall, Michigan
2012
Nuveen Center for the Arts, “Artprize Reprise”, Whitehall, Michigan
2011
LaFontsee Galleries, “Come Out and Play”, Grand Rapids, Michigan
LaFontsee Galleries, “New Work”, Douglas, Michigan
2009
Kendall College of Art and Design, “Imaginings”, Two-person exhibit, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2008
Nuveen Gallery, "Change of Seasons", juried exhibition, Whitehall, Michigan;
received First Place Award
2007
LaFontsee Galleries, "2007-d", Grand Rapids, Michigan
2006
TaigMarks, Inc., Solo Exhibition, Elkhart, Indiana
Nightingale Gallery, “Traincar B…”, two person show, Eastern Oregon University, La Grande, Oregon
LaFontsee Galleries,"Five," Grand Rapids, Michigan
Ford Gallery, "Great Lakes Drawing Biennial," Juried Regional Exhibition, Eastern Michigan University, Yipsilanti, Michigan; received Honorable Mention
Kendall College of Art and Design, "360: Illustratiors Come Full Circle," Invitational Exhibition, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2005
Ambient Gallery, Grand Opening Exhibition, Grosse Pointe, Michigan
Muskegon Museum of Art, "77th Regional Arts Competition," Juried Exhibition, Muskegon, Michigan
LaFontsee Galleries, "April Fools: Paintings or Prints?" Grand Rapids, Michigan
Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts. "Live Coverage," Grand Rapids, Michigan
2004
LaFontsee Galleries, "UNADULTerated," Grand Rapids, Michigan
2003
LaFontsee Galleries, "Holiday Muse," Group Exhibition, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Kendall Collage of Art and Design, "75 Years of Alumni," Juried Alumni Exhibition, Grand Rapids, Michigan; received First Place Award
Subspace Contemporary Art, "Never See What You Believe," Invitational Group Exhibition, Berlin, Germany
Alder Art Gallery, "La Petite X," Juried National Exhibition, Coburg, Oregon
2002
Vesuvius Art Gallery, "By Sticks, Legs or Wheels," Two-person exhibition, Glenn, Michigan
Lemon Street Gallery, "Annual Juried Exhibition," Juried Regional Exhibition, Kenosha, Wisconsin; received First Place Award
Eastern Michigan University, "Michigan Drawing Biennial," Juried Regional Exhibition, Ypsilanti, Michigan
Lowell Area Arts Council, "West Michigan Regional," Juried Exhibition, Lowell, Michigan
2001
Little Cities Gallery, Holiday Show, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Vesuvius Art Gallery, "Telling Stories," Three-Person Exhibition, Glenn, Michigan
Muskegon Museum of Art, "73rd Regional Arts Competition," Juried Exhibition, Muskegon, Michigan
Grand Rapids Art Museum, "Festival 2001 Regional Arts Competition," Juried Exhibition, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Vesuvius Art Gallery, "Heart's Desire," Glenn, Michigan
LaFontsee Galleries, "Winter Presents…," Grand Rapids, Michigan
2000
LaFontsee Galleries, "NEW," Grand Rapids, Michigan
Muskegon Museum of Art, "72nd Regional Arts Competition," Juried Exhibition, Muskegon, Michigan
Bush Gallery, "Recent Works," Providence, Rhode Island
Grand Rapids Art Museum, "Festival 2000 Regional Arts Competition," Juried Exhibition, Grand Rapids, Michigan; received Festival Cash Award
Grand Salon, Amway Grand Hotel, Grand Rapids, Michigan
1999
Channels Internet Cafe and Gallery, Two-Person Exhibition, Providence, Rhode Island
Artscape Gallery, "Garden," Solo Exhibition, Long Beach, California
University Art Museum, "Insights '99," California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, California; received Department of Illustration Merit Award
California State University Long Beach, "Annual Juried Graduate Exhibition," Long Beach, California;
received Best of Show Award (awarded by art critic Peter Frank)
Kendall College of Art and Design, "Annual Kendall Juried Competition," Grand Rapids, Michigan
Saddleback College, "Another View: Selected Works from Contemporary American Printmakers," Mission Viejo, California
Arts Center Gallery, "Off the Press, The Los Angeles Printmaking Society Student Member Exhibition," North Hollywood, California; received First Place Award
1998
University Art Museum, "Insights '98," California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, California
California State University Long Beach, "Something Peculiar is in My Tea," Solo Exhibition, Long Beach, California
California State University, "Odyssey," Long Beach, California
1997
California State University, "Insights '97," Long Beach, California
California State University, "Odyssey," Long Beach, California
1995 - 96
San Francisco Women Artists' Gallery, Group Exhibitions, San Francisco, California
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
- Buckley/Friedman Advertising and Public Relations, Costa Mesa, California
- Gilda's Club, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Genesee Valley Library, Flint, Michigan
- Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Community Shores Bank, Muskegon, Michigan
- Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan
- Hilltop, Ada, Michigan
- Bank of Holland, Holland, Michigan
- Elkhart Pediatrics, Elkhart Indiana
- Steelcase, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- West Michigan Symphony Headquarters (Russell Block Building), Muskegon, Michigan
- Reds at Thousand Oaks, Grand Rapids, Michigan
COMMUNITY
2018 to present
Teaching Artist Aesthetic Education for Muskegon Area Intermediate School District
2010
Art Director, conducted workshops with children to create hundreds of pieces of individual artwork which were collaged and integrated into several large scale panels for the permanent collections of Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital
2006
Juror, 28th Elkhart Juried Regional Exhibit, Elkhart, Indiana
2003 - 2005
Adjunct Instructor in the Department of Illustration, Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2004
Mentor, worked with local high school students on ArtWorks La Petite Vitesse (mini Calder) Project,
Grand Rapids, Michigan
2004
Workshop Instructor, taught art-making basics to autistic children, Franciscan Life Process Center,
Lowell, Michigan
2000 – present
Guest Lecturer, Panelist at various educational institutions