A Minute with Nina Johnson
Hi! This is a newsletter about artists I like.
I began acquiring art through some friends that worked in galleries. I started small, working on a limited budget, for stuff I could afford. As time passed, my collection grew, and it was exciting to watch many of the artists I'd collected go on to bigger shows and critical acclaim. My goal with this newsletter is to make a digestible resource for anyone interested in artists that are making great (and still affordable!) work, whom you haven't heard about... yet.
I’m a big fan of Nina Johnson Gallery and very appreciative of her taking the time to answer some questions. It’s no secret that the galleries that I personally gravitate to are the ones that I have a hard time classifying/categorizing. Of course it’s great to find a new gallery doing great stuff but damn, to be a gallery in Miami for almost 20 years and consistently doing great shows and supporting great artists……INSANELY IMPRESSIVE. It just seems that Nina and her team are never satisfied and constantly looking for new or overlooked artists while supporting their roster at the same time which can’t be easy.
I’ll stop rambling but while the press or anyone talks about Miami and the “art scene,” Nina Johnson Gallery should be mentioned every time in my opinion because you have to have a foundation and NJG is just that.
Can you tell us about the fairs last month and some professional and personal highlights?
NJ: A highlight for me was spending the week with Katie Stout’s daughter and the inspiration for her show, Olympia. It’s amazing to see Katie come into this phase of her practice and her life.
For anyone new to Miami, what are some things you recommend doing whether its other galleries, food, etc.
NJ: Anyone new to Miami should take time to discover the various neighborhoods, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, Little River, the Design District. Each has its own personality and various things to offer in terms of culture, food, etc. I would also highly recommend reading Michael Grunwald’s The Swamp.
For those that nay not live in a art rich city like Miami, what are some resources you suggest for future art enthusiasts to utilize? Could be an online show, magazine, book, podcast?
NJ: I love Contemporary Art Daily which features a frequently updated scroll of gallery and museum shows from around the world. I also recommend subscribing to Artnews. In terms of physical publications, I’m a fan of Apartment.
What are you looking forward to in 2024 with your gallery and who will the first show be for ya?
NJ: Right now we’re gearing up for Madeline Donahue’s Present Tense which will open on Thursday, January. 18th. Her intimate look at motherhood and her role as both a caregiver and an artist posit her in a lineage with Alice Neel, Mary Cassat and so many important artists throughout history, it’s important to recognize that the experience of motherhood is a valid and profound space to explore through the arts.
Who should we have on next?
Gabriel Alcala who has an upcoming exhibition at Dale Zine