Born in 1983 in Uppsala, Johan Barrett grew up in both Pennsylvania, United States and Sweden. Stockholm has been his home since 2008, where he works as an artist and a graphic designer.
Johan is particularly interested in contrasts and points of tension. Some of his pieces are like dark fairy tales of our present world, but always with a childlike sense of hope and comfort. Other work are embellished dreams of idyllic places, but again, always with an underlying threat or sense of friction. Which situation is preferable, he cannot answer.
Johan’s works look to capture a feeling that, while it is a wonderful place of amazement, something is sick in this world. Holiday pictures on Instagram and the classic children's books he reads to his little ones are his greatest inspiration right now. Colourful, imaginative, with a mixture of concrete and abstract motifs characterise my paintings. Recognition and mystery, childish and adult. “This is the place I abide now.”
