About My Art
Rona Johnson is a half Japanese visual artist whose work explores the fluidity of identity and humanity through abstract portraiture. Specializing in acrylics, Rona’s pieces often feature blurred and melting faces, emphasizing bold brushstrokes and deep shadows that speak to the transient nature of self. Through her art, she explores the complexity of human emotion and the elusive concept of identity, capturing the subtle nuances that make each person unique.
Drawing inspiration from her fascination with people and animals, Rona’s work focuses on the intricate details of the human face. She finds beauty in the challenge of capturing a single millimeter’s difference, where the smallest shift can transform the essence of a portrait. Recently, Rona has begun experimenting with molding techniques, adding a new dimension to her work by creating 3D abstract portraits that play with light and shadow.
For Rona, art is a reflection of her ever-evolving identity. She views herself as a blank canvas, constantly shifting and changing, much like the melting faces that appear in her work. Her art is an exploration of the self - one that is constantly in flux, ever-changing, and open to interpretation.
Everything's a Blur
Inspired by the notion of love and
connection, this piece conveys how
idealization can cloud our perception,
making it difficult to see the true nature of a relationship or person.
connection, this piece conveys how
idealization can cloud our perception,
making it difficult to see the true nature of a relationship or person.
Acrylic on canvas
Unless I am myself, I am nobody
The unfinished, abstract nature echoes
the idea that in the quest to please
others, we often lose ourselves in the process.
the idea that in the quest to please
others, we often lose ourselves in the process.
Acrylic on canvas
Becoming Someone Else
Exploring the fragmentation and fluidity of identity. A face not just melting, but dissolving into
something unrecognizable. This piece reflects the
tension between who we are, who we appear to be, and who we fear becoming. It’s about the quiet violence of inner transformation.
something unrecognizable. This piece reflects the
tension between who we are, who we appear to be, and who we fear becoming. It’s about the quiet violence of inner transformation.
Acrylic on canvas
I am King
The contradiction between ego and fragility.
The way we declare ourselves powerful even
while crumbling. The uneven, raw strokes
reflect a fractured self-image: bold in some areas,
unsure in others. The gold crown floats just
above the figure’s head, unattached, questioning whether it’s earned or imagined.
The way we declare ourselves powerful even
while crumbling. The uneven, raw strokes
reflect a fractured self-image: bold in some areas,
unsure in others. The gold crown floats just
above the figure’s head, unattached, questioning whether it’s earned or imagined.
Acrylic on canvas
It's Not That Serious
Inspired by the playful henohenomoheji face
seen in Japanese manga, this deconstructed
portrait blends childhood simplicity with adult
emotion. The bold, cheerful colors contrast a
somber expression - hinting at how we often
hide discomfort behind cute aesthetics. It’s equal
parts nostalgic, humorous, and quietly sad - just
like pretending everything’s fine when it isn’t.
seen in Japanese manga, this deconstructed
portrait blends childhood simplicity with adult
emotion. The bold, cheerful colors contrast a
somber expression - hinting at how we often
hide discomfort behind cute aesthetics. It’s equal
parts nostalgic, humorous, and quietly sad - just
like pretending everything’s fine when it isn’t.
Acrylic on canvas
Pretending to Listen
A minimal side-profile rendered in sweeping
black lines and a single red cheek. At first glance,
the figure appears still, attentive - but suggests a disconnection beneath the surface. The
simplicity of the expression allows viewers to
project their own emotional context, capturing
that familiar moment of looking present while drifting elsewhere. It’s about silence,
performance, and the quiet spaces between what’s said and what’s felt.
black lines and a single red cheek. At first glance,
the figure appears still, attentive - but suggests a disconnection beneath the surface. The
simplicity of the expression allows viewers to
project their own emotional context, capturing
that familiar moment of looking present while drifting elsewhere. It’s about silence,
performance, and the quiet spaces between what’s said and what’s felt.
Acrylic on canvas
"My work explores the duality of identity, emotional masking, and the quiet contradictions we carry. As a half-Japanese artist, I draw from both personal experience and cultural imagery to build portraits that are abstract, expressive, and often fragmented - much like memory itself. Each piece is a character, a mood, or a moment of emotional truth dressed in playful colors or flattened linework.
I aim to expand my series of abstract portraits into more ambitious emotional narratives - using color, repetition, and distortion as tools for revealing what we often hide. I am especially interested in the tension between softness and sadness, humor and heaviness, and how the human face can hold both at once.
Ultimately, I want to create work that is both intimate and universal - portraits that make people feel seen, even if the faces are barely there."
