Midge Johnson Artist Biography

Midge Johnson was raised in Newark, NJ and currently resides in  Osprey, Florida.  Raised by a single mother in an urban environment, she benefited from early exposure to a diverse cultural environment.  The political and socio-economic conditions experienced in childhood were the backdrop and catalyst for her development of resourcefulness, self-reliance and social awareness.  These life-skills fostered a successful business career and now carry her along the road to achieving her artistic goals.

After a 30-year career as CFO/ EVP of a major music publishing company, she currently devotes her time to honing her artistic skills.  She creates abstract expressionist mixed media painting.  

She is a self-taught artist continuously learning through classes, workshops, and on-line courses in both painting and art history.  She has studied composition with NYC Artist Gilda Pervin, life drawing with Simon Dinnerstein, watercolor with Clare Godleski and Jeff Cohn.  She has traveled within the US to attend immersive workshops with Janet Rogers, Joan Fullerton, Jean Pedersen, Lian Quan Zhen, Ken Homesmer, Alexis Lavine, Rick Surrowicz, Nancy Hillis and others.  She currently studies on-line with the Art & Success Group founded by acclaimed artist Pamela Caughey.  Midge also enjoys art history classes offered by MOMA (NYC), particularly those relating to the post-war NY abstract expressionist movement.

Her work has been influenced by Helen Frankenthaler, Georgia O’keefe, Lee Krasner, Pat Passoff and  the post-war abstract expressionists, as well as contemporary artists with whom she continues to study. 

in 2021 Midge and her husband Alan Wasserman partnered to open Midge Johnson Fine Art, a studio, gallery and performance  space in Osprey, FL.  Alan is classical pianist who has performed in hundreds of venues in NY, NJ, China, Russia, and Austria  Alan;s concert grand Steinway piano resides at Midge Johnson Fine Art.  There patrons can attend classes, workshops and piano concerts coupled with Artist talks or demonstrations.  Midge offers her work for sale in the gallery as well as online.   Midge is also represented for selected works by The Mara Studio + Gallery in Sarasota, Florida.  

Her solo show, Zen, at The Mara Studio Gallery in Sarasota FL debuted September, 2024.  Due to the distraction of back to back hurricanes, the show will shown again during January 2025.