Daniel Johnston: It's a Beautiful Life 

This is the first UK retrospective exhibition of work by the US musical cult legend, Daniel Johnston, presenting over forty of his drawings alongside early tape covers and rare 7” record sleeves.



Daniel Johnston is a singer, songwriter and artist. From the release of his first album ‘Songs of Pain’ in 1981 to his inclusion in the Whitney Biennial in 2006, his work has inspired audiences and led to collaborations with fellow artists including Yo La Tengo, Jad Fair, Larry Clark and Sonic Youth.



This exhibition aims to highlight the recurring themes, characters and belief systems within his work, in a career that spans over twenty years. His visual art presents us with an evolving mythological universe made up of characters from his childhood passion for superheroes, Godzilla, King Kong and Bible stories. It shows a world in which there are battles between good and evil, with a pathos, simplicity and undeniable humour.



Daniel Johnston lives and works in Waller, Texas. He has recently exhibited his work at The Whitney Biennial (2006), Clementine Gallery, New York (2005) and Arts Factory, Paris (2005). In 2005 Jeff Feuerzeig’s documentary ‘The Devil and Daniel Johnston’ won the Director’s Award at Sundance Film Festival.



Exhibition presented courtesy of Jeff Tartakov and The Museum of Love. For more information see www.museumoflove.com



‘Daniel Johnston: It’s a Beautiful Life’ is part of Design Event 07 (DE07), the North East’s annual design festival, www.design-event.co.uk





Supported by: Arts Council England, alt.vinyl

Media Sponsor: The Wire magazine