Collection: TESSA JOHNSON

Tessa is a third generation Wyoming Native. She loves Wyoming and thewestern aspects of life here. Her childhood home was filled with classical music, contemporary art, and ongoing projects. Her family home was a welcome place for colorful artist, musicians and fine craftsmen. An artist friend, the renowned Grandfather of Contemporary Jewelry, Phillip Morton, visited Tessa’s studio in the early 1990’s and referred to her paintings and prints as “elegant gems.”

Tessa’s father was a fine woodworker and furniture maker, and highly regarded horseman and trainer in the last brigade of the US Horse Cavalry. He taught her to ride, use tools, and build things. All of those crafts have been extremely useful. She earned a degree in Printmaking and Painting from Kansas City Art Institute in 1981.

She spent many summers on horseback as a pack trip cook in the 1970’s – 1990’s. The Gros Ventre Range, remote Yellowstone, Wyoming Range and Wind River Range were her stomping grounds. Tessa obviously loves to cook, and especially over a fire.

Tessa depicted rodeo and ranch life in her pieces, though she never participated in rodeo events. She took her saddle when traveling to visit ranch friends, did drawing and painting, cooked a bit, helped move cows and horses, saw new country and enjoyed life with good people.

Tessa’s artworks have been viewed in many galleries in Wyoming, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., New York, Aspen & Denver CO and Arizona. Her artwork is included in some very impressive collections in the US, Europe and Asia.

tessjohnson.com