oh right
Hi, I’m Johnerick Lawson, a multidisciplinary artist.
I started with drawing as a child and have really grabbed whatever medium suited the project as I moved through my artistic journey. Somewhat recently, in 2024, I had a table at a local art show where I was asked by a 9-year-old what my style was called, and I didn’t have a very good answer. I think I said something like “cartoony abstract.” Then, when I got home, I thought maybe it was “meta contemporary,” but looking that up, it seems the title already applies to a pretty cool art movement. I find myself yet again not really able to give a singular framed title to what I’m doing.
I am driven by an unquenchable urge—that’s the best way I can put it—and now I see my act of creation more like I’m getting out of the way of something and letting it flow through me. I guess I’ve always felt it, but I used to try and tie off the feeling with some logical description.
Publishing has always been a part of what I do and have done. When I was younger, I made abstract zines exploring the absurdity that I found all around me. I was actually called a publisher when I was in SF, working with my friends at the time on Madhappys, an all-comic newspaper. It was printed by Sonoma Valley Publishers, who I had found through the Street Sheet, the local unhoused newspaper that was being printed at the time. We published 5,000 copies every month for 16 months, with one month off.
I am now publishing a small, free zine in Arlington called “Who Cares LOL.”
check it out
EDUCATION
San Francisco Art Institute Bachelor of Arts in Design and Technology, 2004 – 2009
EXPERIENCE
Freelance Artist | Johnerick Lawson | 2000 – Present
Creative Director | Flower First, Vermont | 2022 – 2024
- Led the development and execution of all aesthetic elements for the Flower First brand, including brand creation and packaging design.
- Pioneered the “Terpjerkers” art project, which resulted in 40 unique trading cards and a video game.
Animator | Various Advertising Firms (JWT, Titmouse, The Studio, Mosomos), Brooklyn, NY | 2009 – 2014
- Contributed to animation projects for clients such as Trident, Rolex, America Travel, and Bloomberg.
- Provided hand-drawn and computer-generated animation in a collaborative team environment, primarily using the Adobe suite.
Co-Founder | WAMP, Brooklyn, NY | 2001 – 2004
- Co-founded the Brooklyn-based collective WAMP and actively participated in numerous art shows.
Publisher | “The Madhappys,” San Francisco | 2008 – 2009
- Published “The Madhappys”, a monthly all-free comics newspaper, for 16 months.
Animator | Music Videos | 2009 – present
- Created animated music videos for artists including:
- “Outside” by David Bronson
- “Repetition” by TV on the Radio
- “World Wide” by Kool Keith
Solo Artist | Galerie Les Singuliers, Paris | 2012
- Held a solo painting exhibition.
SKILLS
- Painting
- Sculpture
- Publication
- Animation