Biography

Born in Boston, Robert S Johnson is a photographer based in New York City and in Wellfleet, Massachusetts where he lives with Katherine Alford and their son Asher.

Robert turned to photography full time in 2008 after a lifetime of taking photos. Since then he has devoted himself to work as a freelance photographer and educator. He was formerly the Artistic Director of THECO, Inc., a theater company, and Regional Vice President of an after-school education company.  

Robert’s photographs have been exhibited internationally, from New York to Budapest. He has published seven photo books and his work is included in private collections.

Always a visual kid, he began taking pictures using his mother's camera on family trips and on the grounds of the Boston State Hospital, aka “Boston Lunatic Hospital” founded in 1839, where he was raised.

Boston State Hospital Administration Bldg.

Boston State Hospital Administration Building (and Staff Housing) - Stock Photo

Robert's photography includes expansive project-based visual poems, including TRANSLUCENT, which he describes as a project without end. His photographs and photo essays appear frequently in the Provincetown Independent.   

He has conducted workshops and lectured at the School of the New York Times Summer Academy, and Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill.

 

Clients

Clients include: The New School; The Customs House, Wellfleet MA; The International Center of Photography;  Gender Conference NYC 2019; PFLAG NYC; New Circle Theater Company; Word Hermit Press; Chefs Collaborative; and Audition Savvy.

 

Exhibitions

Group Exhibitions:

  • THE SOHO PHOTO GALLERY - National Competition July 2022

  • PH21 GALLERY - Bodyscapes - Juror’s Choice July 2022

  • THE GRIFFIN MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY - Members Show (Online) July 2021

  • PH21 GALLERY - Monochrome (Honorable Mention) May 2022

  • SOUTH x SOUTHEAST GALLERY - Small Works (2 images) March-April 2022

  • PAAM - Members Exhibition - March-May 2022

  • PH 21 GALLERY - Photographic Visions Winter 2022 (3 pieces) - February2022-March 2022

  • A SMITH GALLERY (Johnson City TX) - Light - February 2022-March 2022

  • VESTIGE CONCEPT GALLERY (Pittsburg)- Stripped Down - February 2022

  • PH 21 GALLERY Feminine/Masculine February 2022

  • PAAM Members show (2 pieces) Provincetown December 2021-January 2022

  • SOUTH x SOUTHEAST GALLERY - Flora and Fauna - November 2021

  • PRAXIS GALLERY - Open - October 2021

  • SOUTH x SOUTHEAST GALLERY - Portrait - September 2021

  • PAAM (Provincetown MA) - September 2021

  • PH21 GALLERY - Monochrome - July 2021

  • GRIFFIN MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY - Members Show - July 2021

  • SOUTH X SOUTHEAST GALLERY (Georgia) - The Road - July 2021

  • WELLFLEET (MA) PUBLIC LIBRARY (On Line) - June 2021

  • PH21 Gallery - Bodies - April 2021

  • PRAXIS GALLERY - Portrait - April 2021

  • PH21 GALLERY - Narrative - March 2021

  • PRAXIS GALLERY (Minneapolis) - Open - February 2021

  • ALEX FERRONE GALLERY (Long Iland NY) - Winter Small Works - December 2020

  • BLACKBOX GALLERY - Shadow and Light - October 2020

  • PH21 GALLERY - Stories - March 2020

  • PH21 GALLERY - Corporealities - February 2020

  • PH21 Gallery - Fem-Masc - Juror’s Choice - January 2020

  • SOHO PHOTO GALLERY - Portfolio Development - July 2019

  • BLACKBOX GALLERY - Through the Lines - May 2019

  • BLACKBOX GALLERY (Portand Oregon) - Black and White - February 2019

  • THE SALMAGUNDI CLUB - Competitive Open Photography - January 2019

  • PH21 GALLERY - Nocturne - November 2018

  • DARKROOM GALLERY (Vermont) - Metamorphosis - August 2018

  • SOHO PHOTO GALLERY - Juried Exhibition B&H Photo - July 2018

  • PHOTOPLACE GALLERY (Vermont) - Black and White Juried Exhibition - June 2018

  • THE SALMAGUNDI CLUB (New York City) - Competitive Open Photography - April 2018

  • PH21GALLERY - Peripheral Vision - March 2018

  • PH21 GALLERY (Budapest) - Just In Time - February 2018

  • NUDE NIGHT MIAMI - (Florida) November 2017

  • PROVIDENCE CENTER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTS - (Rhode Island) September 2017

  • GRIFFIN MUSEUM (Winchester MA) 23rd Juried Exhibition - July 2017

  • SOHO PHOTO GALLERY - July 2017

  • SOHO PHOTO GALLERY - Juried Exhibition B&H Photo - July 2016

  • NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE MUSEUM (New York City) - Juried Exhibition - March 2015

  • SOHO PHOTO GALLERY (New York City) - Juried Exhibition B&H Photo - May 2014 

  • GALERIE PROTEGE - (New York City) Monsters - May 2014 

  • PHOTOVILLE - 2013

And in many private collections.

 

Publications

  • SOUTH x SOUTHEAST MAGAZINE (December/January Issue) Featured Artist

  • #ICPCONCERNED: Global Images for Global Crisis - Contributor - 2021

  • PROVINCETOWN INDEPENDENT - 2019-2021

  • RAGE BAKING - Author Photo - 2020

  • COLOR IN BLACK AND WHITE (TRANS_LUCENT v.3) - 2019

  • TRANS_LUCENT v.2 - Artist Book - 2019

  • ALL FAMILIES ARE THE SAME - Artist Book - 2018

  • PHOTOGRAPHER’S FORUM - Best of Photography 2017 - 2017

  • “Proof Sheet” APANY Summer Quarterly - Parting Shot - 2017

  • TRANS_LUCENT 1.0 - Artist Book - 2017

  • HARD TO DIE - Back Cover (Word Hermit Press) - 2016

  • ONE QUICK BLINK - Artist Book - 2015

  • CM MAGAZINE - Spring 2015

  • THE QUOTIDIAN HUDSON - Artist Book - 2014

  • GUIDE TO NEW YORK CITY URBAN LANDSCAPES (W. W. Norton) - 2011