Angela Johal

Q. Where did your artistic journey begin?

A. In growing up in California in the 60s and 70s I was exposed to the California hard edge and psychedelic artists, textile designs and music of that period which has influenced my painting. In 1985, I received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting from San Jose State University and currently live in the San Francisco Bay Area where I paint full time in my studio.

Q. How would you describe your work?

A. I paint primarily geometric paintings that are reflective of the formal aspects of mid-century hard edge, color-field, and Op art paintings that are created in accompaniment with music.

Q. What is your artistic process?

A. I begin with an initial idea, then draw multiple rough sketches until I am satisfied with the composition, one that is balanced and energetic, then draw up a final plan on graph paper with dimensions, and transfer it with pencil on a sanded canvas using straight edges and compasses. I apply varying widths of tape to mask areas in order to achieve a neat, hard edge. I then select my music, then paint intuitively with little pre-planning of color. The composition is the stable element and then I “risk all” and let my mind and music determine the colors which allow for many more varieties of color than a planned color scheme would allow. Since the eye can never figure out the color pattern, it keeps scanning and searching for a pattern, and then when the eye goes to the hard edge where two colors meet, halo effects form similar to what I have learned from studying the early pointillist painters. When the painting is complete, I apply multiple layers of varnish to create a smooth finish.

Q. What do you want viewers to take away from your work?

A. First of all, I want my paintings to be truthful. I want the flatness of the painting and color to be the subject. I can create illusions of 3D space with mainly flat colors. I used to feel that my illusions were false when I painted in a realistic manner. Secondly, I want them to bring joy to the viewer. In working out my compositions carefully, I track eye movement that is pleasing, as well as color selections that create this. Thirdly, I want them to be heard. Music plays an essential part in my painting and like painting, it reaches within to react directly to the emotions. Color vibrates

for me on the canvas, just like music does in my ears. When I paint, I do not distinguish between what I hear and what I see, it’s like a blending of the senses, a chromesthetic experience where heard sounds evoke an experience of color on the canvas. So, on some level, I hope people can experience sound when they see my work. Fourthly, I want people to be calm. Structure, form, movement, rhythm, colors, and infinite space, all work together as a whole to calm, satisfy and help us to see the world beyond ourselves. Lastly, I use geometric shapes because they are understood by people of all ages, races, nations, and cultures and I like my paintings to speak to everyone, to be easily understood by some and complicated by others.

Solo Exhibitions

2018

You Hear the Colours, DAVID RICHARD GALLERY, Santa Fe, NM

Angela Johal: Painting, Clorox Building Lobby, Oakland, CA

Curated by Slate Art Consulting, Oakland, CA

Chromesthetic Geometrics: Bay Area Metro Center First Floor Atrium Lobby

In partnership with SFMOMA Artists Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2017

Slate Contemporary Hall Gallery: New Geometrics Exhibit, Oakland, CA

2016

101 Second St. Lobby, San Francisco, CA

2015

Accumulations: Collages by Angela Johal + Sculptures by Bean Finneran, SLATE Contemporary, Oakland, CA

2014

Beyond Consumerism: The Body Speaks, Grand Theatre Center for the Arts, Tracy, CA

2013

The Body Speaks & Emanations, Figurehead Gallery, Livermore, CA

Firehouse Arts Center PAL featured artist, Pleasanton, CA

Found Objects, Assemblages & Collages, Wente Vineyards Estate Winery, Livermore, CA

2012

The Art of Collage, Firehouse Arts Center, Pleasanton, CA

2011

Intersecting Color, Bankhead Theater Founder’s Room, CA

2010

Abstracted, Cuda Ridge Winery, Livermore, CA

Falling Color, Wente Vineyards Estate Winery, Livermore, CA

Converging Lines, Bankhead Theater Gallery, Livermore, CA

Geometrics, Bankhead Theater Founder’s Room, Livermore, CA

2009

Gemstones Abstracted, Wild Vine Art Gallery, Livermore, CA

2008

Square Series, Wild Vine Art Gallery, Livermore, CA

Abstract View: Rocks, Feathers & Butterflies, Bankhead Theater Gallery, Livermore, CA

2006

Eucalyptus Abstracts, Artspace Gallery, Livermore, CA

Land & Sky, Wente Vineyards Estate Winery, Livermore, CA

Group Exhibitions

2019

Harrington Gallery, Fresh Works, Juror Virginia Tominia, Pleasanton, CA

The Space Gallery. The White Cube Challenge, Alameda, CA

SFMOMA Artists Gallery Benefit Sale, San Francisco, CA

2018    

Jennifer Perlmutter Gallery, Color & Pattern, Lafayette, CA

Jules Place Gallery, Boston Design Center show, Boston, MA 

DAVID RICHARD GALLERY, Summer Break, Art Selections, Part I, Santa Fe, NM

Slate Contemporary Hall Gallery works by Andrzej Michael Karwacki, David Fredrik Moussallem, AngelaJohal, Maura Segal & Silvia Poloto, Oakland, CA 

SFMOMA Artists Gallery Benefit Sale, San Francisco, CA 

Susan Street Fine Art Gallery, Solana Beach, CA

Jules Place: Art For Living Gallery, Boston, MA

Slate Editions exhibition with Slate artists, Batch showroom, San Francisco, CA

Slate Contemporary Hall Gallery: Holiday Show, Oakland, CA

Khrome Studios, San Francisco, CA

2017   

Jules Place: Art for Living Gallery: Bountiful, Boston, Massachusetts Slate Art Consulting: Tahoe Installation, Martis Camp, CA

Slate Art Consulting: Pacific Heights Installation, San Francisco, CA 

Slate Contemporary: Philartropy, Oakland, CA

Firehouse Arts Center: Along the Lines, Pleasanton, CA

Khrome Studios, 101 Henry Adams St., San Francisco, CA