Romano Johnson lived on the North side of Chicago until moving to Madison, Wisconsin at aged 12, which is when he started making art. “Mano,” as friends call him, works out of the non-profit studio in Madison called ArtWorking, Inc. His large, acrylic and glitter paintings are packed with pattern, color and musical rhythms creating an exuberance that matches his larger-than-life subject matter. Johnson’s complex compositions feature pop culture icons, political figures, racing cars and spaceships. (Source: Portrait Society Gallery)
"When I was a young kid in Chicago, I would draw 'cause I love it and I was good at it. It's what I like to do.
I like to draw cars, car parts, faces, hair, clothes. And when I draw and paint I'm always working for better ideas; blending colors, adding glitter, coming up with patterns.
I want people to see that this is what I love doing, and what I always wanted to do. I want people to look at my paintings and drawings and say, 'Wow!' I’m a good person inside. I love to go to church and I love to pray to God for everybody in the world and my family and the staff that works with me. I listen to gospel, jazz, and a little bit of hip-hop and old school songs like Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson. The gospel songs sometimes inspire me." (Source: ArtWorking)