Artwork copyright Nan Johnson. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Nan Johnson. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

The Race, 1993

Nan Johnson
American (born 1950)

Location: Skagit Valley College - Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor

About the Artwork

Artist Nan Johnson composed the abstract painting The Race through a spontaneous process of layering bold, colorful brush strokes. After adding black elements Johnson notes that "I saw figures moving across the surface. I gave these figures eyes and mouths and defined them with water color crayons...the final painting looked like figures in a race."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Skagit Valley College.

About the Artist

Seattle-based artist Nan Johnson creates abstract and narrative paintings. She studied art at Western Washington University in Bellingham (Northwestern Washington), the Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle, and the University of Washington in Seattle.