11/01/2026
We visited the studio of British painter for an in-depth conversation about architecture, geometry, and the lifelong pursuit of precision in painting. Known for his highly detailed cityscapes and architectural works, Johnson has spent decades redefining how the built environment can be translated into paint through structure, proportion, and colour.
In this studio interview, Ben Johnson reflects on his early education in the 1960s, the influence of Bauhaus philosophy, German Expressionism, and his move away from abstraction toward architecture as subject matter. He discusses deconstructing photographs, rebuilding images through geometric grids, and why his work has often been misunderstood as photorealism.
Johnson speaks candidly about independence, rejecting commissions, and key moments in his career, including exhibitions at the ICA, encounters with architects such as James Stirling, and the creation of monumental cityscapes like Liverpool. He also explores the role of city planning, community, and how paintings can act as catalysts for discussion about society and the future of cities.
The conversation moves into spirituality, Islamic geometry, the Alhambra, trauma, memory, and how painting became a form of therapy and reconstruction. From meticulous craft to moments of stillness and reflection, this interview offers a rare and intimate look at one of Britainβs most distinctive contemporary painters.
