In the orbit of contemporary art, where the lines between reality and abstraction blur into poetic ambiguity, Miles Johnston has etched his name with precision and depth. Born in the UK in 1993, Johnston’s artistic journey began in the tropics of Brunei, Borneo, where the unfamiliarity of the landscape instilled in him a profound sense of wonder and a lifelong fascination with the extraordinary lurking within the mundane. His works have since evolved into powerful narratives, inviting viewers to traverse realms of emotional complexity, distortion, and beauty.

The Origin of Miles Johnston’s Unique Vision

Johnston’s early years were a blend of curiosity and an eclectic approach to learning. In Hampshire, England, his mind wandered across disciplines—mathematics, physics, philosophy, and, of course, art. These disparate interests fed his desire to perceive and represent the world from perspectives far removed from the ordinary. By 18, Johnston’s artistic aspirations took him to Sweden, where he studied at the Swedish Academy of Realist Art. There, he refined his craft in classical techniques, grounding his abstraction in mastery of the human form. Yet, it is his departure from traditional realism that truly sets his work apart.

Agony, Guilt, and Emotional Resonance

At the heart of Johnston’s oeuvre lies the emotional weight he conjures through graphite and oil paints. His compositions depict distorted and fragmented human figures—faces multiply, limbs twist unnaturally, and bodies stretch and contort. Each piece evokes a profound sense of internal struggle and metamorphosis. These figures are metaphors for human emotions—intangible, complex, and visceral. Whether it is the knot in your stomach before an important conversation or the overwhelming release of joy, Johnston’s portraits capture these sensations in ways words cannot.

The black-and-white paintings stand out as particular manifestations of these themes. The absence of color allows for an even more raw exploration of form, light, and shadow. In a way, the stark contrasts of black-and-white become an emotional canvas, allowing the viewer to feel, rather than just see, the anguish or ecstasy of the depicted figures. Johnston’s line work speaks as much as the figures themselves—sharply drawn, meticulously layered, yet still undefined, inviting engagement from both the eye and heart.

The Bridge Between Literal and Metaphorical

Johnston’s work reaches its emotional peak when the figure becomes not just a reflection of reality, but an embodiment of deeper psychological states. Through his abstract art paintings, the viewer is invited to see emotions not as fleeting, invisible experiences but as tangible, physical forms. His iconic pieces like Peace is Possible (2018) and Shame (2020) encapsulate this tension between the real and the imagined—where figures are distorted yet compelling, appearing both otherworldly and intimately familiar.

“Art,” Johnston once stated, “isn’t just a reflection; it’s a way to process and transform life’s complexities.” His work, particularly in oil paints, expresses this philosophy through a radical reimagining of form and meaning. Whether a delicate curve of a torso or the slashing abstraction of a tangled limb, Johnston speaks to the transformative nature of art—an act that is not solely about creation but about revisiting, reinterpreting, and reliving.

A World Beyond the Canvas

Johnston’s art has resonated far beyond the walls of galleries. As his works have found a global audience online, exhibitions such as his 2018 solo show Interoception at New York’s Last Rites Gallery have solidified his reputation as one of the most intriguing voices in contemporary art. The emotional intensity of his work has made it universally relatable, yet deeply personal—an intersection of the individual and the collective. In his work, each piece becomes a conversation between the artist and the viewer, as well as a dialogue between different versions of reality itself.

His tenure as a teacher at the Swedish Academy of Realist Art only furthered his commitment to the world of art, demonstrating his dedication not only to personal growth but also to the growth of others. Johnston understands that art, like life, is an evolving process. It is through these changes—this continuous exploration—that we find meaning.

Finding the Sublime in Distortion

In the end, Miles Johnston’s art offers a reminder: beauty often lies in imperfection, and the sublime can be found in the strangest corners of human experience. His distorted figures, juxtaposed with emotionally potent themes, compel us to rethink how we perceive ourselves and others. Each painting, whether an oil on canvas or a graphite sketch, invites us to see the world anew, through a lens that bends reality and emotion into hauntingly beautiful forms.

 

Johnston’s work isn’t merely to be looked at; it is to be experienced, lived, and reflected upon. Through abstraction, the artist offers us not just a glimpse of human struggle, but a chance to feel it ourselves—to understand, if only for a moment, the invisible narratives that shape our lives. The figures he creates transcend the ordinary, asking us to embrace the extraordinary in the simplest corners of our emotions, ultimately reminding us that transformation is always possible, even in the most broken of forms.