Biography

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

2016    

Graphic Impulse, Slate Contemporary, Oakland, CA 

Abstract Women, San Ramon Valley Conference Center, San Ramon, CA

G2 Insurance, 140 New Montgomery St., San Francisco, CA

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

Art Market SF, SLATE Artist, San Francisco, CA

SLATE Selections, SLATE contemporary, Oakland, CA

Aspen Leaf Interiors Design Studio & Gallery, Truckee, CA

SFMOMA Artists Gallery Benefit Sale, San Francisco, CA

2015    

Art Market SF, SLATE Artist, San Francisco, CA

Martis Camp, SLATE Art Consulting, Lake Tahoe, CA

Gallery 85 Selections, Gallery 85, San Jose, CA

Emanations, Lumen Gallery, Capitola, CA

2014    

Color Charts, SLATE contemporary, Oakland, CA

Recycled & Repurposed, San Ramon Valley Conference Center, San Ramon, CA

Art Co-opted, Grand Theatre Center for the Arts, Tracy, CA

Group Show, ASK.com offices, 555 12th St. Oakland, CA

Angela Johal and Dave Meeker, Tribune Tower Window, Oakland, CA

SLATE Selections, SLATE contemporary, Oakland, CA

Figurehead Gallery Artists, Livermore, CA

Emanations, Lumen Gallery, Capitola, CA

2013    

Art Co-opted, Grand Theatre Center for the Arts, Tracy, CA

Transported, Gary Francis Gallery, Alameda, CA

2D3D Works with Juror Rene de Guzman, 2nd place award, LH Horton Jr. Gallery, Stockton, CA

Women, Linus Galleries, Los Angeles, CA

East Bay Open Studios Preview Show, Pro Arts Gallery, Oakland, CA

Emanations, Lumen Gallery, Capitola, CA

Fresh Works, Juror Elizabeth Kathleen Mitchell, Harrington Gallery, Pleasanton, CA

Transport: Where Do We Go From Here Member’s Show, Pro Arts, Oakland, CA

Expressions, 1st & 2nd place mixed media, Tracy, CA

2012   

Art Co-opted, Grand Theatre Center for the Arts, Tracy, CA

East Bay Open Studios, Pro Arts, Jack London Square artists, Oakland, CA

Beauty…It’s Not Pretty, Grand Theatre Center for the Arts, National Juried Exhibition, Juror Kris Kuksi, Tracy, CA

East Bay Open Studios Preview Show, Pro Arts Gallery, Oakland, CA

Fresh Works, Harrington Gallery, Juror Kim Anno, Pleasanton, CA

Courage, Member’s Show, Pro Arts Gallery, Oakland, CA

The 4 R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, & Regrow, Expressions Gallery, Berkeley, CA

Off The Wall, Figurehead Gallery, Livermore, CA

Comrades In Art, Bankhead Gallery, Livermore, CA

Spring Art Show, Best of Show award, Livermore, CA

Expressions Selections, Grand Theatre Center for the Arts, Tracy, CA

Expressions, 1st place mixed media, Tracy, CA

2011    

Grand Opening, Figurehead Gallery, Livermore, CA

Fresh Works, Harrington Gallery, Pleasanton, CA

The Essential Nude, Bothwell Arts Center, Livermore, CA

Spring Art Show Selections, City of Livermore Gallery, City Hall, Livermore, CA

Expressions, 1st place collage, Tracy, CA

Expressions Selections, Grand Theatre Center for the Arts, Tracy, CA

2010   

2D3D Color & Design, National Juried Exhibition, Juror SFMOMA Curator, LH Horton Jr. Gallery, Stockton, CA

What Lies Above, Beneath & Through, merit award,Linda Ryan Fine Art Gallery, Livermore, CA

Ekphrasis, a Poetic Response to Art, Livermore, CA

Poetry, Prose and Arts, Pleasanton, CA

The Essential Nude, Bothwell Arts Center, Livermore, CA

First At the Firehouse, Harrington Gallery, Pleasanton, CA

East Bay Figurative, Linda Ryan Fine Art Gallery, Livermore, CA

2009    

Museum on Main Group Show, Pleasanton, CA

Expressions, Tracy, CA

At the Mission Adobe, Pleasanton,CA

The Essential Nude, merit award, Livermore, CA

2008   

Art in the Vineyard, Wente Vineyards Estate Winery, Livermore, CA

Member’s Showcase 2008, Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley, CA

Expressions, 1st place watercolor, Tracy, CA

At the Mission Adobe, Pleasanton, CA

2007    

Ekphrasis,a Poetic Response to Art, Big White House Winery, Livermore, CA

Featured Artists, Artspace Gallery, CA

Education

1985   

Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (B.F.A.) in Painting, Magna Cum Laude, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

Exhibitions

mashgallery-angela-johal-rhythm-colour-no.-5-2021

Psych-o-delic

Works by a collection of artists
May 15 - June 26, 2021

mashgallery-lisa-schulte-lumiere-2019

Lumen

Works by a collection of artists
August 17 - September 21, 2019

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