Gerry Johansson | |
|---|---|
 Gerry Johansson 2021 | |
| Born | 5 May 1945 Örebro, Sweden |
| Nationality | Swedish |
| Occupation | Photographer |
| Website | http://www.gerryjohansson.com/ |
Gerry Johansson (born 5 May 1945) is a Swedish photographer[1] who lives in Höganäs in southern Sweden.[2] He makes "straight and pragmatic" photographs with "an objective view of a geographic location."[3] His books include America, Sweden, Germany, Antarctic, Tokyo, and American Winter. His work is held in the collection of Moderna Museet in Stockholm, Sweden,[4] where he has had solo exhibitions. He has been awarded the Region Skånes kulturpris[5] and the Lars Tunbjörk Prize.[6]
Johansson was born in Örebro, Örebro County, Sweden and grew up in Varberg, Halland County, Sweden.[4] He started photographing at age 11 and began printing his own pictures at age 15.[4] After high school he lived with relatives in New Jersey, USA for a year.[4] He studied for a degree in graphic design at Konstindustriskolan in Gothenburg (now the School of Design and Crafts at the University of Gothenburg), between 1965 and 1969,[7] then worked for a photography magazine.[4] He worked for fifteen years as a graphic designer.[7] In 1972 he co-founded the publishing house Fyra Förläggare, specialising in photography magazines and photobooks, usually with work by Swedish documentary photographers.[4] In 1985 he left Fyra Förläggare to work as an independent photographer.[4][7]
Johansson makes "straight and pragmatic" photographs with "an objective view of a geographic location."[3] "Almost all of his 31 photobooks are defined by their geography, if not the subject matter, and their equally-sized photographs are generally organised either alphabetically or chronologically, a bid to encourage readers to interpret them individually."[4] He predominantly uses black and white film, which he develops and prints himself.[4] His favourite camera is a Rolleiflex.[4]
Johansson's book American Winter (2018) was made in the mid-western states of the USA—Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado—in 2017/2018, over two three-week trips.[4]
Johansson is married to Ann Jansson, who makes ceramic art.[8] They live in Strandbaden, near to Höganäs in Skåne County, southern Sweden.[9][10]
Johansson's work is held in the following permanent collection:
