The Prolific Art of Johannes Kunst
Celebrating the life-long artist and well-known figure in West Coast and European Art Communities. Enjoy! -
"Johannes’ style evolved through the decades, though certain elements — including bold palettes, figurative abstractions and a keen sense of humor — remained constant. He worked for various design firms throughout his life and even founded a greeting card line. His personal work, however, was inspired by humanitarian issues, current events and his own life." .
"Johannes was driven by a sense of social purpose — both as an artist and a person".
“He was an environmentalist,” she continued. “He deeply cared for the people, and he was terrified about the world we’re living in right now. And he puts that all on paper, but with really nice, bright colors and very funny things in it as well”.
Johannes Kunst
1938-2017
Johannes Kunst was a Dutch-born artist who emigrated to the United States in 1958, where he lived and worked until the end of his life. After studying graphic design at Glendale College in California, he embarked on a successful career as a designer, all the while nurturing his passion for painting and drawing.
Kunst's artistic journey spanned four decades, during which he explored a variety of styles and techniques. This exhibition showcases a selection of works on paper from the 1970s and 1980s—a period when Kunst developed a distinctive approach characterized by fine lines and colorful, graphic elements. His work from this time echoes the influences of Joan Miró, Paul Klee, and, to some extent, Niki de Saint Phalle.
Undoubtedly influenced by his background in graphic design, Kunst's works in this exhibition blend surrealism, abstraction, and a playful use of color and line. His compositions often feature biomorphic shapes, symbolic imagery, and a whimsical, childlike quality that exudes spontaneity and freedom. Kunst's black-and-white linework creates intricate, mandala-like fields, which he sometimes left blank and at other times filled with vivid colors - particularly primary hues like red, blue, and yellow- conferring to the works vibrancy and energy. The longer one lingers on these works, the more stories emerge, revealing Kunst as a natural storyteller, just like David Syre and Renee Noelle Cheesman.
In his complex drawings, Kunst frequently employed simplified, organic forms that resemble figures, animals, and other elements from nature, yet these forms are abstracted to the point where they become symbols and caricatures rather than realistic depictions. His style is imbued with a strong narrative quality, reflecting personal experiences, fantasies, and deeply rooted memories. Kunsts work has often been interpreted as an exploration and elaboration of the traumatic experiences of World War II. While some of the works in this exhibition do address some otthese themes, they are tempered by a sense of whimsy and imagination, drawing viewers into a fantastical world that is both visually captivating and intellectually engaging.
Kunst's art served as a means of self-expression and self-healing, allowing him to navigate and transform his personal history into something universally resonant.
Harmanna Kunst, Curator
"The works of Johannes likens him to artists such as Joan Miró, Paul Klee, and Niki de Saint Phalle. And while some paintings touch on complex themes, they are “tempered by a sense of whimsy and imagination, drawing viewers into a fantastical world that is both visually captivating and intellectually engaging".
”Nearly seven years ago, a solo show for the Dutch-American painter Johannes Kunst opened at the Jansen Art Center in Lynden. The opening date — Dec. 7, 2017 — fell exactly 60 years after the artist’s arrival in the United States. It also came just 29 days after his death.
The posthumous exhibition, “Imaginary Friendship in Retrospect,” was Johannes’ first show in Whatcom County, but he was no amateur. Rather, Johannes was a lifelong artist and well-known figure in West Coast and European art circles.
