Texas Red

Texas Red is the artistic identity of poet Lawrence Johns (b. 1947). Inspired by New York graffiti art, Texas Red began painting portraits of literary, historic and cultural figures in 2013 using stencils, commercial spray paint and reused canvases. Using two primary stencils based on cattle brands from the American Southwest–the ‘Rocking TR’ and ‘Shifting Corral’–Texas Red crafts metaphysical portraits of his subjects. Artists, philosophers, poets, scientists, musicians, and theological figures are rendered as colorful spray icons. Texas Red investigates the spirit of each subject while simultaneously branding them part of his personal canon. Texas Red’s first public exhibition at Artfair Portland in 2019 featured a large room dedicated to fifty of the artist’s paintings. Johns is the author of two books of narrative poetry, Love and Hate (2005) and Beyond Exile (2008).

Inquire for pricing and availability