Aaron Johnson

This Fall, RMA Teens worked with painter Aaron Johnson, whose work involves a critique of the Rockewellian ideal of American life, exposing its underlying monsters such as consumerism, exploitation and war through the depiction of comically grotesque, colorful, glimmering and seductive monsters.   RMA Teens discussed the similarity of his work in appearance and concept to the wrathful deities on display at the Museum, which also feature caricaturization of societal and inner demons.  Johnson is known for his technically innovative reverse paintings.  He shared this technique in a hands-on workshop in which teens made their own backwards painted monster.