Desert Figures – Mixed Media by Ynez Johnston – 1920–2019

“Desert Figures” is an original mixed media work by celebrated American artist Ynez Johnston (1920–2019), a distinguished voice in 20th-century modernist and surrealist art. This striking vertical composition features a totemic procession of abstracted figures rising through a moody, atmospheric field of sage greens, cool grays, and muted purples. Johnston employed plumber’s putty to build a tactile, topographical surface relief, into which she layered intricate etchings and drawings across richly varied textures. Accents of black, rust, and deep violet animate the figures with energy and depth. Custom framed in a beautifully distressed silver and pewter frame that perfectly complements the work’s palette, this piece is exhibition-ready. A rare opportunity to acquire an original by this important American artist — a powerful standalone work or distinguished addition to any fine art collection.