Lee Johnson (1935-2022)

Lee Karyl Johnson was born in 1935 in Nebraska. He spent three years in the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating high school, and upon returning home got married and set off for art school under the G.I. Bill. Lee earned his BFA from the Minneapolis School of Art and his MFA from the University of New Mexico. His stint as Assistant Director of the Roswell Museum and Art Center coincided with the beginning of the Roswell Artist-in-Residence Program in 1967 and he thus was instrumental in its development as its first official director. He later returned to have his own RAiR residency from 1974-75. Lee taught at Western Colorado University for more than 30 years, eventually becoming Emeritus Professor of Art. He was still painting, exhibiting and discussing his art well into his 80's. Besides painting, Lee investigated sculpture and photography, which included a commission in 1980 to survey revivalist architecture in Colorado. Besides exhibiting frequently and being represented in numerous collections, Lee received many awards including a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship. Two of Lee's paintings are on view at AMoCA.

Lee Johnson discussing his exhibition at the Quigley Gallery, Western Colorado University.