What does it mean to take the reins of a gallery and make it your own?

In Atlanta’s vibrant art landscape, Donovan Johnson is redefining the role of a gallery director. Now at the helm of Johnson Lowe Gallery after the passing of his mentor, Bill Lowe, Johnson is blending Lowe’s legacy with his own creative direction, creating a space that resonates with Atlanta’s spirit and showcases a diverse range of voices.

“The gallery has always really been, as Bill used to call it, ‘a portal to global visual culture,’ and I wanted to make good on that,” Johnson says. His goal? To offer a platform that’s as dynamic as Atlanta itself, one that represents the diversity and cultural depth of its community. But Johnson is also thinking forward, crafting a gallery that doesn’t just reflect the present—it embraces the future of contemporary art.

Step into Johnson Lowe Gallery today, and you’ll find a mix of emerging, mid-career, and established artists whose works spark conversation. Recent exhibitions have featured names like Radcliffe Bailey and Charly Palmer, artists whose pieces reflect layered histories and explore themes of resilience, memory, and cultural identity. This mix of talent highlights Johnson’s commitment to showcasing artists with distinct narratives and styles that challenge, inspire, and speak directly to audiences.

For Johnson, the gallery’s inaugural show under his direction, The Alchemists, was a significant step forward. It marked the first time the gallery showcased only Black artists, creating a powerful space to explore questions of Black identity, legacy, and cultural transformation. “It became a part of the gallery program because I was challenged to find a way to merge Bill’s vision with what I wanted the vision of the gallery to be moving forward,” Johnson explains. The exhibition invited viewers to consider, as the gallery puts it, “How is Blackness—as a set of ideas, ways of being, and inherited legacies—transformed in an artist’s practice today?” With The Alchemists, Johnson made it clear that Johnson Lowe Gallery is a place where Black voices and stories take center stage.

What makes Johnson’s approach stand out is the atmosphere he’s cultivating within the gallery. Johnson Lowe is designed to feel inviting and inclusive—a place where anyone can walk in and feel connected to the art, whether through a powerful story, a striking visual, or a theme that resonates. Under Johnson’s leadership, the gallery is more than a venue; it’s an experience that connects the viewer directly to the art, encouraging exploration and reflection. For Atlanta’s art lovers, Johnson Lowe Gallery has become a go-to destination, where the art on the walls is a reflection of the community’s own stories, struggles, and triumphs.

Source: Artsy

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If you’re following the evolution of Black art and want to experience Johnson’s unique curatorial vision, keep an eye on Black Art Magazine for future highlights and artist spotlights. Johnson Lowe Gallery is a space to watch, and Donovan Johnson’s leadership is one of the reasons Atlanta’s art scene is growing stronger every day.