These abstracted portraits of childhood nightmares are fragments of recurring characters from James’ childhood dreams. Representing strife, fear, stress, and decay, they provoked problems in his dreams until he decided to enshrine them. By first sketching their shapes and then abstracting them into forms, he was able to quell their power and, ultimately, come to terms with their nature.
Now, these abstracted figures have become guardians of resilience. They remind us what can be overcome. In freezing them into form, James turned them from tormentors into teachers—symbols not of fear, but of the power to confront and integrate.
James W. Johnson
Taxidermied Dream Demons (Passages)
2025
wood, ashe, oil, mild steel, light
~2′ x 1′
FOR SALE: $400/each or $1,200/set
Process Photos
