Tom Johnson’s work finds its form through obsessional, patient practices. In general it stands in the romantic tradition of metaphysical art and answers a need to understand the ground of being. Two principal activities, therefore, shape his practice.

The first is an investigation of social and psychological forces. The second, which has to do with epistemology, probes the language of art. He is best known for his monologues and for his long-duration performances. He has exhibited widely, including in group exhibitions at Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts, New Zealand, Castello di Rivoli Museo di Arte Contemporanea, Italy, PS-1 Museum, New York, and the St Louis Museum of Contemporary Art, Missouri.

Recent solo exhibitions include Tom Johnson at Guido Costa Projects in Torino, Italy. He earned his Master of Fine Arts from the Bard College in 2000 and studied at the New York Studio School.