Furnace – Art on Paper Archive is pleased to present Passages, a solo
exhibition of new works by artist Erick Johnson. This latest body of work explores color as a
threshold—an ever-shifting visual language of movement, transition, and transformation.
At the heart of Passages is the idea that color is both a fixed presence and an unfolding experience,
much like the Zen teaching from The Gateless Gate:

“When you try to grasp it, you lose it. When you no longer try, it is there.”

This paradox mirrors Johnson’s approach—his compositions vibrate with shifting relationships, yet
they settle into a profound harmony when fully absorbed. His work does not seek to define color but
to invite the viewer into its passage, embracing the impermanence and fluidity of visual experience.
“Color is an evolving conversation,” says Johnson. “Each form is a portal, a way of moving through a
visual space that is both structured and fluid. Passages is about that journey.”
A seasoned painter with a deep commitment to abstraction, Johnson’s practice builds on the
traditions of modernist color theory while carving a distinct, contemporary path.