Doug Johnston
My work often sits at the intersection of art, design and craft, taking the position that no made object is exclusively aesthetic or utilitarian.
Doug Johnston (b. 1979) is an American polymath designer whose work transcends the traditional delineations of fine art and design. Doug Johnston's work oscillates between art and design, primarily utilizing a process of coiling and machine-stitching cordage based on ancient vessel-building techniques. Originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, he has lived in Brooklyn, NY since 2007, often collaborating with his wife, artist and designer Tomoe Matsuoka.
Since 2010 Doug Johnston have been focused on a process of coiling and stitching rope using industrial sewing machines, with which I have produced a wide range of functional and sculptural objects. The work utilizes a long history of human technologies such as cordage, coiled vessels, bags and basketry, masonry construction, sewing machines, and 3d printing.
Doug Johnston work often sits at the intersection of art, design and craft, taking the position that no made object is exclusively aesthetic or utilitarian. Each piece is a drawing, a body, a space, and an attempt to grasp a moment in geologic time as we enter the anthropocene.
- Art: Doug Johnston