Leroy Johnson - Artist Talk and Virtual Studio Tour

Leroy Johnson will give us a virtual tour of his studio and talk about some of the inspirations behind his work. Johnson has been making art about the urban landscape of Philadelphia for over fifty years, working in mediums ranging from painting to collage to clay and assemblage sculpture. Chronicling the evolving landscape of Philadelphia, his work offers juxtapositions of social tensions, historical moments, and urban structures in conversation with the story of African Americans in the city. Informed by Johnson’s long careers in social work and education and his Master’s Degree studies at Lincoln University, his artwork highlights his knowledge of Philadelphia’s streets, the interwoven accounts of generations, and pressing contemporary social conditions, including inadequate access to resources, violence, and gentrification. His unflinching depiction of our world brings awareness to the forces and lives that continue to shape the city.