Afrocentric Contemporary Artist Exploring Inner Glow & Identity
I’m Ethan Johnson, an internationally recognized contemporary Afrocentric artist creating work centered on the formation of Black Identities.
My paintings explore potential, presence, and stillness while using motifs from Afro Dandyism and my own unique visual library.
My work is created for those who respect authentic presence and want to see parts of their identity reflected in the art that surrounds them.
Maintain your glow and fulfill your potential.
Ethan Productions logo, 2014
Homemade Halloween costume, 2015
Artistic Philosophy
The concept of inner glow is central to my practice. It represents the unseen — emotional resilience, inherited memory, self-worth, and the light that exists independent of external validation. My work focuses on presence and feeling the intense hum of your potential in moments of peace. Faces are calm, gestures are restrained, and color becomes a language of feeling rather than decoration. I’m interested in portraying Black figures as complete, self-possessed, and grounded — not performing, but simply being.
Pursuing my inner glow has lead my artistic growth to now where my work has received international recognition, including a Talent Award in Teravarna’s International Color Competition. I want to inspire other artists to reach for the same goals for themselves.
Process & Materials
My work is created using oil pastels, mixed media, and layered surfaces that allow for texture, softness, and intentional imperfection. I start with a wash of acrylic gesso over the canvas before I gradually layer and sketch using oil pastels. I then go over the sketch with acrylic paint and color blocking key elements of the piece.
Finally I detail my work using acrylic paint and marker before signing each piece and coating with a layer of matte acrylic to keep it preserved.
I care for my work greatly and would like to sell them to those who share that care for my craft.
First Oil Painting, 2024
Senior capstone exhibition, 2025
Photographing 'liberty and the masses', 2025
Get to Know ME
My work invites viewers to see and feel themselves within each composition — not as passive observers, but as holders of presence, memory, and emotional depth. Rooted in an Afrocentric view of inner glow and self-recognition, these pieces are created with both intention and quiet confidence: each layer, color choice, and gesture reflects a psychological space where reflection becomes personal connection. For discerning collectors and thoughtful designers, this art offers a grounded, contemplative presence — a piece that integrates into your life, evokes conversation, and holds value well beyond the visual.
Stay updated on my work
Joining my Studio Updates List will keep my collectors up to date on any upcoming exhibitions, limited edition prints, and work in progress paintings.
