Johan Andersson

Born in Trollhattan, Sweden in 1986, Johan Andersson is a rising star in the London arts scene. Andersson moved with his family to England in 1995 where he has been focused on his artistic talents ever since. In 2008, he graduated from Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design with a BA with Honors in Fine Art Painting.

Andersson has earned international attention with his powerful and insightful portraits. Often combining classical and abstract techniques in his oil paintings and using turpentine to disrupt the surface of paint, he portrays a blend of control and chance. He explains, “I like the play between order and disorder in painting.” This dichotomy is evident in his remarkable work which aims to challenge perceptions of beauty; often the subjects of his portraits appear androgynous so as not to detract from the focus of the viewers on the message of his paintings. Andersson also attempts to explore the uncomfortable aspects of posing nude and the consectaneous issues of identity and insecurities, and by depicting this underlying tension and ambiguous awkwardness, he creates an unparalleled intimacy between himself, the subject, and the viewer. “I want the viewer to come as close as they possibly can to the portrait and for the portraits to be exposed.”

While Andersson is deeply inspired by the subjects of his paintings, he also travels to inspire his artwork. Additionally, he involves himself deeply in the art world that surrounds him, which he believes “provides a constant stream of inspiration and widens [his] creative potential.” He has been warmly welcomed into this scene, recently exhibiting his work with world-renowned artists like Tracey Emin, Sir Peter Blake, Gavin Turk, and Mat Collishaw. Andersson lives and paints in London, creating work that becomes more and more appreciated with every passing day.