Over the weekend, FARAGO, a new downtown Los Angeles project space near the once-opulent Tower Theatre, opened its second show entitled Gospel Oak, featuring the paintings of Leigh Johnson. Born in California, Johnson received her MFA in photography from Yale University and now lives and works predominantly in London. Most recently, she had a solo exhibition, Hard Shoulder, at the Journal Gallery in Williamsburg.
In her latest show, Leigh makes art from abandoned mattresses, with additional mediums like latex and acrylic to render public spaces onto formerly private surfaces. "Leigh Johnson is attracted to private lives that are not hers, the tremendous amount of intimacy from which we're excluded," the show invite read. "An object that was once touching our nakedness, so close to bare bodies, is now rubing up against street dirt."
The work is accompanied by beautiful, explanatory texts. “How she liked the word abyss because it just went on and on,” is one of my favorite lines.
I sent a few questions to Leigh about the show and her relationship with the photographer (and longtime Opening Ceremony friend) Max Farago, who is behind the project space.
STEPHANIE LACAVA: How did you meet Max?
LEIGH JOHNSON: I met Max in the black-and-white darkroom at NYU. While both of us were leaning over some chemicals, waiting for our images to appear, he told me I had nice blue eyes.
How would you describe the works in Gospel Oak?
The works in the show are black-and-white paintings that have an affinity with photographic negatives. I use abandoned mattresses for canvases and paint images of barriers and obstacles onto them. It often feels as if these obstacles are shadows imprinted on the fabric, and I'm bringing them to the surface.
What do you think of the space?
FARAGO is a great space; it used to be three storefront jewelry shops underneath a very grand theatre in downtown Los Angeles. It feels unique—fading, decadent glory gone bodega, now a jewel of a space. I like to drive by at night as the fluorescent light sparkles the street.
Gospel Oak runs through March 15
FARAGO
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Captured at Gospel Oak's opening this weekend, on a historic stretch of downtown Los Angeles. Images courtesy of FARAGO
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This piece comes with text that begins: "Scouring the weather for answers: it’s raining now, a few minutes ago it was sunny, so stripes today. Tomorrow the weather will come in diagonal lines."![]()
This piece comes with text that begins: "She drove her car i
In her latest show, Leigh makes art from abandoned mattresses, with additional mediums like latex and acrylic to render public spaces onto formerly private surfaces. "Leigh Johnson is attracted to private lives that are not hers, the tremendous amount of intimacy from which we're excluded," the show invite read. "An object that was once touching our nakedness, so close to bare bodies, is now rubing up against street dirt."
The work is accompanied by beautiful, explanatory texts. “How she liked the word abyss because it just went on and on,” is one of my favorite lines.
I sent a few questions to Leigh about the show and her relationship with the photographer (and longtime Opening Ceremony friend) Max Farago, who is behind the project space.
STEPHANIE LACAVA: How did you meet Max?
LEIGH JOHNSON: I met Max in the black-and-white darkroom at NYU. While both of us were leaning over some chemicals, waiting for our images to appear, he told me I had nice blue eyes.
How would you describe the works in Gospel Oak?
The works in the show are black-and-white paintings that have an affinity with photographic negatives. I use abandoned mattresses for canvases and paint images of barriers and obstacles onto them. It often feels as if these obstacles are shadows imprinted on the fabric, and I'm bringing them to the surface.
What do you think of the space?
FARAGO is a great space; it used to be three storefront jewelry shops underneath a very grand theatre in downtown Los Angeles. It feels unique—fading, decadent glory gone bodega, now a jewel of a space. I like to drive by at night as the fluorescent light sparkles the street.
Gospel Oak runs through March 15
FARAGO
Captured at Gospel Oak's opening this weekend, on a historic stretch of downtown Los Angeles. Images courtesy of FARAGO
This piece comes with text that begins: "Scouring the weather for answers: it’s raining now, a few minutes ago it was sunny, so stripes today. Tomorrow the weather will come in diagonal lines."
This piece comes with text that begins: "She drove her car i