As an only child, Johnson spent his solitary childhood hours immersed in the colorful pages of comic books—unaware that this early fascination with color would lay the groundwork for his artistic inspiration later in life.

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Born in Lexington, Kentucky’s historic East End, Johnson recently returned to his childhood community, where he has established his studio in The Artists' Village—a live/work space for artists and makers. His artistic journey began more than a decade ago with hand-stringing store-bought beads into bracelets and necklaces. His passion for glass ignited after purchasing a vintage Fenton amethyst carnival glass bowl at a yard sale. Captivated by its rich hues, he developed a deep appreciation for handcrafted art glass. This fascination evolved into an antiques business specializing in vintage art glass, but his creative nature pushed him beyond collecting—he yearned to create.

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Johnson first experimented with making his own beads from polymer clay before transitioning to glass under the guidance of lampwork bead artist Laura Hallock. His desire to master the medium led him to study kilnformed glass with Hallock and glassblowing with Jon Stokes and Brook White, both former students of renowned glass artist Stephen Rolfe Powell. Capitalizing on this foundation, Johnson expanded his skills through self-education, closely observing other glass artists, devouring books and magazines, and embracing trial-and-error techniques and has recently started training with Shane Bruning, assistant to Travis Adams, another student of Stephen Rolfe Powell..

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A sudden setback occurred when a ruptured water tank flooded his previous studio, forcing him to pause his glassmaking. Seeking a new creative outlet, Johnson turned to photography, taking instruction from Lexington photographer John Snell. Initially using photography to document his glasswork, he soon realized its potential as a standalone artistic medium. Experimenting with water, milk, and pigments, he developed mesmerizing series such as Watersilks, Colorswims, and Fountainfalls, which explore the fleeting beauty of color in motion.

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“I already had the photography equipment since I was taking pictures of my glasswork, but I never considered myself a photographer. I was simply taking pictures of my glass,” he recalls. “I had an overwhelming desire to create something new—to make something that did not exist prior and then capture it digitally.”

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Drawing inspiration from master artists such as Ellis Wilson (painter), Stephen Rolfe Powell and Dale Chihuly (glassmakers), and Sam Maloof (furniture maker), Johnson’s artistic perspective has also been shaped by travels to Italy, France, Mexico, Asheville, North Carolina, and New York. His work has been exhibited worldwide, including in Finland, Tokyo, Florence, and the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. His commissioned and production pieces are housed in private collections across the U.S. and internationally, as well as at Eastern Kentucky University’s John Grant Crabbe Main Library.

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Among his most notable achievements, Johnson was named one of the top 60 contemporary artists in 2017 by Art Tour Magazine and in 2024, he was honored with the prestigious Milner Award as part of the Governor’s Awards in the Arts, celebrating his profound impact on Kentucky’s cultural landscape.

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Learn more about Johnson's recent activities at Facebook.com/marklennjohnson.