Matthew Johnson
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Matthew Johnson was born in 1963 in London and now lives and works in Melbourne. From 1982 -84 he completed Higher Art Certificate, National Art School, Sydney.

Johnson's pigmented surfaces demonstrate a delight in the application and layering of paint. His studio is full of precious pigments that recall the work of Japanese nihonga - style painters who are trained in traditional methods of mixing rare pigments. Often made from natural materials such as shell, nihongo-style painters mix pigments that glisten with different textures Johnson uses the iridescent pigment iriodin which is made from sand to imbue the canvases with an effervescent glow.