Who am I?

Art has always been a part of who I am. Even as a kid, I was drawn to the small details — things people can overlook. I remember studying the design and paintwork on action figures, not just playing with them but really noticing how they were made. I was always creating something from my own imagination — not just replicating what I saw, but building from within.

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That path really started to take shape in 5th grade, thanks to my art teacher, Mrs. Rudy. She was the first person to hand me a sketchbook and encourage me to pursue art more seriously. Around the same time, I was lucky to learn from Lida Barrera, whose art classes introduced me to different mediums and taught me how to experiment — painting, building, sculpting — all of it fed into my creative drive.

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I started my formal training at Bak Middle School of the Arts, then went on to Dreyfoos High School of the Arts and eventually MIAD (Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design). Each place gave me new skills and direction, and helped me sharpen the way I express ideas through art and design.

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After college, I spent over a decade working with Jon Allen of Statements 2000 — a well-known metal artist with a strong studio practice. I started as a fabricator and over time became one of the lead artists, often trusted with commissioned pieces and creative input. Working in metal gave me a new language to create with — one that’s bold, physical, and incredibly rewarding. I gravitate toward underwater and nature-inspired themes, and I love using texture and movement to give metal a sense of life.

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A few years into that chapter, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. It’s challenged me physically, but I’ve never let it change how I show up — for my work, or for life. With different obstacles in life, we see with different eyes and discover new ways for creativity to flow — sometimes to help mentally, spiritually, or physically. Through my work, I aim to show and represent the different difficulties and trials we go through — and what it means to be an overcomer. In 2024, I married my wife, the love of my life (also an artist, and a Dreyfoos grad), and we’ve been surrounded by amazing support from friends and family.

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Currently, I’m focusing on creating and sharing my own work — exploring new ideas, offering commissions, and staying connected to what I love most: making art that’s built by hand, shaped with intention, and meant to last.

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Thanks for reading! Let's collaborate!

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- Johnny