Jess Johnson’s drawings and mixed-media works are meticulous in design, yet wild and otherworldly in content. Throughout her work, the New Zealand-born artist implements text to help provide more information and riddles about these strange worlds. Her new show at New York’s Jack Hanley Gallery, “Everything not saved will be lost,” collects these works, plus large-scale and absorbing installations.
“Her drawing and installation practice is influenced by the speculative intersections between language, science fiction, culture and technology,” a statement says. “In her drawings she depicts complex worlds that combine densely layered patterns, objects and figures within architectural settings. Johnson’s drawings are often displayed within constructed environments that act as physical portals into her speculative worlds.”
Recent work on paper implements acrylic paint, pen, fibre-tipped markers and gouache. Somehow, these disparate artifacts, creatures, and designs create cohesive peeks into Johnson’s subconscious. Johnson’s show at Jack Hanley runs through Oct. 8 at the gallery. See more of her works below.
Seattle-based artist 
Since 2012,