Photo by Elissa Nadworny
Hello!
LA Johnson is a unicorn artist with a love of storytelling. She’s been a multimedia journalist, editor and art director at NPR in Washington, DC since 2014. There, she draws illustrations and comics, writes stories and scripts, does live reportage and interviews, makes graphics and data viz, and edits, too. She’s always ready to try a new thing and brainstorm up a new project. Before NPR, LA worked for Deloitte making infographics and UX design, and before that she was a designer at a print shop where she screen-printed t-shirts and posters in 95-degree weather. In a previous life, she was a snooty barista, a server, a poolside bartender, and a cookie decorator.
LA lives in DC with her husband, her son, and her cat. She is an urban gardener, hiker/biker, amateur naturalist, yogi, and sci-fi lover.
LA is finishing up over 100 illustrations for a new book, Party of One, by Meghan Keane, out Fall 2024 via Chronicle Prism.
Clients include:
Chronicle Books, Harvard Business Review, The Washington Post, Warby Parker, AARP, NPR, Deloitte, Sierra Club, Catholic University Magazine, AFAR Magazine, SPLC, The Rumpus.
Gillian MacKenzie represents LA for book illustrations. Contact Gillian for books-related requests at gmackenzie[at]gmalit[dot]com.
LA received her BFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2009.
Awards
LA is a recipient of a 2024 Gracie Award for the news feature category, for her illustrations on a story about harm reduction from Martha Bebinger and WBUR Boston.
LA is a nominee of the 2022 Education Writers Award for her non-fiction comic about vaccines in schools.
LA is the recipient of the 2021 Gracie Award for digital storytelling for her non-fiction comics series about teaching in the pandemic.
LA is the recipient of the 2017 Edward R. Murrow award for Excellence in Innovation for her non-fiction comics at NPR.
Lectures
LA is a frequent guest at ICON The Illustration Conference, MICA, and SCAD and has lectured and held crits upon invitation from EWA, ICON, George Washington University, The Center For Cartoon Studies, Milwaukee Art Institute, and the now defunct Artisphere in Rosslyn, VA. Her focus is on artistic confidence, self-promotion and moving on your own path. She has also lectured across the US for NPR promoting visual journalism and telling stories with pictures.
LA teaches kids how to make comics at The Hill Center in DC. *Email for more information if you are interested in taking a class, or inviting her to lecture!
Exhibitions
2022
Bluebird Sky Yoga Studio, Brookland, DC.
Land of Skulls, Halloween show at The Midlands, DC.
2021
Transformer Gallery Annual Auction American University Katzen Center for the Arts, DC
2019
DC Low Brow Invitational - The Cheshire, Washington, DC, 10/19
2018
Transformer Gallery Annual Auction, The Corcoran, DC 11/18
“Future Ghosts” Solo Exhibit - Lost Origins Gallery, Washington, DC 8/18
NeonCat - WOMXN X ART, The Lemon Collective, 3/18
2017
DC Design Week Showcase, Cherry Blossom Creative, 11/17
Open Studio Spring Show, DC 6/17
Find The 11th Dimension, Fathom Creative, DC 5/17
2016
American University, Transformer Annual Auction 11/16
2015
Open Studio, DC -
Show Posters Show, 12/15
Hole in the Sky, DC -
Group Show, 7/15
Black Whiskey, DC - Black Whole, printmaking show, 6/15
2014
Project 5 Gallery, Baltimore - 10/14
Hole in the Sky, DC - Call and Response, 9/14
2013
The Dunes, DC - Paperhaus and Friends, 10/13
Hole in the Sky, DC -
Printmaking Show, 11/13
Portrait Show, 8/13
Mural Show, 6/13
Civilian Arts Projects, DC- Permanent Summer, 7/13
2012
Permanent Collection, 21st Century Realtors, Washington, DC. June 2012-present
Scraps, Independent Publication, Brooklyn, NY. March 2012
2011
Parallelism (solo), JoJo’s Restaurant and Bar , Washington, DC. Oct.-Dec. 2011
STPP Fest, Bella Cafe (R.I.P.), Washington DC. June 2011
Love and Memory, Cre[8] Space Gallery (R.I.P.), Washington, DC. February 2011
2010
Avery Anthology Release Show (solo), Book Court, Brooklyn, NY. November 2010
Alie[N]ation (solo), Mid City Caffe (R.I.P.), Washington, DC. Oct.-Dec. 2010
First Friday Monthly Show, Channel 33 Project, Delaware, OH. Aug. 2009-Mar. 2010