Perry Johnson

Perry sketching out a new painting at the OSLP Arts & Culture Program in Eugene, OR

Perry Johnson was born and raised in Eugene, Oregon, and has been an artist at the OSLP Arts & Culture Center since 2013. In the studio, you'll find him at an easel, wearing a black apron and focused on his current project. In between making artwork for specific exhibitions or working on commissions, he generally gravitates toward painting portraits. Several years ago, he only painted his family - homages to his beloved mother, brothers (in particular his triplet brothers), and aunts and uncles. In the past, he also painted prolifically about his career at Buick automotive: depictions of when he first started working as a car detailer and paintings about when he was laid off 40 years later. More recently, he’s expanded his catalog to include well-known and newsworthy individuals like John Lewis, Martin Luther King Jr., O.J. Simpson, and Donald Trump. Perry’s most recent series, pictured here, are portraits celebrating black female writers.

Portrait of June Jordan, mixed media on paper

Portrait of Toni Morrison, mixed media on paper

Portrait of Audre Lorde, mixed media on paper

Portrait of Alice Walker, mixed media on paper

Portrait of Ntozake Shange, mixed media on paper

The OSLP Arts & Culture program is a progressive art studio located in Eugene, OR. Since publication, the program has rebranded as Radiant Community Arts.