Artwork copyright Thomas Johnston. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

Artwork copyright Thomas Johnston. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

Roids, 1981

Thomas Johnston
American (born 1941)

Location: Washington State Arts Commission, Olympia

About the Artwork

Artist Thomas Johnston created the artwork Roids. It was printed from a copperplate created by the artist during his travels to Paris, Israel, and Italy. The imagery is an abstract recording of his trip. Its grid form references Polaroid photographs, a more common way to document travel.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Washington State Arts Commission.

About the Artist

Artist Thomas Johnston is a printmaker, painter, and photographer. He founded the printmaking program at Western Washington University in Bellingham (Northwestern Washington), where he taught for 39 years. After retiring in 2006, Johnston relocated to Olympia, Washington. He has worked independently and held artist residencies in Mexico, Canada, Belgium, England, France, and Italy. He earned a bachelor's degree from San Diego State College and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara.