Daniel Johnston

January

Celebrating what would have been his 60th Birthday

Texas-based Daniel Johnston (January 22, 1961 – c. September 11, 2019) was a manic-depressive genius singer/songwriter/artist, active in the music scene since the late 70’s. He was a self-taught, pop rocker and illustrator whose art and music was greatly focused on his obsession with unrequited love and the pop culture that he first encountered as an adolescent. Johnston’s songs have been covered by several hundred artists, including David Bowie and Tom Waits. The late Kurt Cobain mused that Daniel Johnston is the best song writer in America. In 2006, his life was documented in the award-winning film “The Devil and Daniel Johnston,” and his painted illustrations were exhibited in the Whitney biennial.

His artwork was also shown in London’s Aquarium Gallery, New York’s Clementine Gallery, and at the Liverpool Biennial twice–in 2006 and 2008. In 2009 his work was exhibited at The Museum of Love at Verge Gallery in Sacramento, California. This collection of artwork is extraordinary, showcasing many elements of the artist’s obsessions–but based primarily around his love of comic books. These pieces pre-date and inspired the work in Daniel’s first comic book, Space Ducks – An Infinite Comic Book of Musical Greatness, published by BOOM! Studios.

Daniel had a lifetime battle with mental illness, and medication prescribed for this condition damaged his liver requiring multiple hospitalizations. He passed from a heart attack in his sleep before the morning of September 11, 2019. He left behind a legacy as perhaps the greatest outsider musician-artist of the twenty-first century.

Daniel was included in the memorial reel at this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction ceremony.

Purchase immediately using our secure shopping cart. Artworks will be available for pick-up or shipment at the end of the physical exhibition (on or after February 26th). Email us anytime or call between 12-6PM to arrange other payment and delivery options.
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