A brief note 

MICHAEL JOHNSON was born on St. Patrick's Day in Sydney in 1938.From 1939 to 1959 he studied at the Julian Ashton School and the National Art School. He moved to London in 1960 and studied at the Central School of Art and, until his return to Sydney in 1967, taught and lectured in art.

Michael continued to lecture, paint, and exhibit in Australia for the next two years, and in 1969 he went to live and work in New York. He remained there until 1975.

Michael had a long break from a regular exhibition schedule. We were very lucky to be able to arrange several shows with him upon his return to Australia. Eventually, he became too much in demand elsewhere for us to develop a closer relationship.

In Elwyn Lynn's opinion, Michael Johnson "has long been considered Australia's leading abstract painter".