Johansson Projects

Loved the art

One of the best art galleries in the Bay Area, not just the East Bay. Even the work that isn’t up my alley is interesting, and always presented in some way that is completely appropriate to the work (which isn’t always the case with galleries these days). Kimberly is a talented curator, and everything about her gallery is highly professional.
JP has shown many very talented artists, including Jim Campbell, Tadashi Moriyama, The McCoys, Jill Gallenstein, David Trautrimas, Jeff Konigsberg, Kristina Lews, Mike Meyers, and many, many more.
Oakland needs more places like this, so places like this need your support. Love contemporary art? Then check out Johansson Projects. (And I agree — going some time other than Art Murmur will enhance your viewing experience, though going the night of Art Murmur will enhance your chaotic zoo of wine drinking hipsters experience, which can also be amusing.)

The moment I walked in, I was immediately blown away. The artists are incredible & the quality of work in every piece is superb. I happened to stumble across Johansson Projects during my occasional lunch time exploration sessions & discovered the monthly Murmur which I’ll definitely be coming out to check out next month. Major ups to Johansson Projects. I’ll definitely be making a point to come out & check out their future shows

Hands down, my favorite art gallery in the East Bay. I think I’ve seen every show in the last two years, and am consistently impressed — and often blown away — by them. Kimberley Johansson is an incredible curator, and I’ve been turned on to many of my now-​favorite artists at Johansson Projects. I’m always excited to see what’s next here.
One note: I’ve actually stopped going during the monthly Art Murmur, just because it’s so packed that you can’t really get a good look at the art. But I make a point to stop in the day afterwards so that I can take in the show of the moment at a more leisurely pace.

Hi people. This is the best art gallery in the bay area. Yes that includes San Francisco. Kimberly Johansson has an incredible eye for art that is aesthetically, conceptually and creatively strong and innovative. Every single show I have seen here has been fantastic. The only other gallery that comes close is Postmasters in New York City…
Yay…

The only reason I still go to the art-​poser (sorry folks) murm. This gallery shows amazing work, work that is unique, no copy cat action, amazing concepts and craftsmanship. The owner is so friendly and open to new ideas and artists. This is THE best gallery in the East Bay.
And I’m and artist.
And an art teacher.
And an art student.
o.k., you get the picture ;)

The most consistently spellbinding gallery within Oakland Murmur.
Johansson can be spotted on the corner by its text covered spotlight. Inside you’ll find a classy gallery that has a faux grass ceiling.
When I visited the artwork presented were oil paintings on aluminum and paint on transparency. These unusual mediums really played to their strengths. I didn’t see anything else in Oakland this contemporary or experimental.
Unfortunately I hear that they’re moving to New York. I can totally see them thriving in a bigger city yet I cannot feel a tad betrayed. Nevertheless, I hope they strike it big.

Owner Kimberly Johansson is an amazing woman. She has taken the downtown Oakland art scene to a whole new level with her gallery, and I’m thrilled to see the transformation. The artists and shows are consistently fine, and often cutting-​edge.

Always my 1^st stop on the Oakland murmur crawl. I love the permanent fake grass ceiling, the video installation spaces in the backs of both rooms, and the interesting shows that come through there. This latest ones, Propagations, is super anti-​establishment end of the worls Matrix shit. Really dug it. A lot of female artists, too, which is always great to see and experience.
Check out the recycled cardboard magnetized bench in the back.
Current Exhibition
Propagations
Featuring: Tadashi Moriyama, Paul Hayes, Alexis Amann, Rebecca Whipple, and Kiersten Essenpreis
May 15^th Exhibition 6 – 9 pm
Portals
Featuring Jen Stark, Anna Fidler and Jana Flynn
Past Shows
Neither Here Nor There: 5 Artists Selected by Renny Pritikin
Read review by DeWitt Cheng
Anatomy of Folklore
Evan B. Harris and Lawrence LaBianca
Everything’s Going South
October 2007 Review
Transtructural
September 2007
Thread
July 2007
Excavations
May 2007
Art of Survival
November 2006

Johansson Projects is easily one of the top galleries in the East Bay. I believe thanks to Kimberly’s curatorial talents the exhibitions are always interesting and the shows are filled with extremely varied but thematically consistent work. There seems to be an emphasis on using materials in unconventional ways in much of the work shown. To me that means that even if I do not like the way a piece might come across I am still usually intrigued by the way someone made it.

Best collection of artists I’ve seen in a very long time. Nice to get a little bit of distance from the cartoon/​drippy aesthetic that has defined «hipster» art for years now. Don’t get me wrong, love the cartoony thing… but the last show I saw here was a definite step beyond.