Painter, street art extraordinaire, Cardboard Caravaggio, John Lee is the artist behind Clohn Art (pronounced “clone”). He’s currently based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but his reach is far and wide. From San Francisco to Mexico City, Kunming, China, to Seattle, Greece, to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where his lie. John grew up just outside of the city, and this southwestern influence is evident in many of his works. Clohn Art originated in 1999 as cards mailed between John and his best friend. It has since grown into what it is today, his livelihood. John is a member of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh and participates in dozens of art festivals across the U.S. throughout the year. His art utilizes a variety of styles and materials, many of which are found objects. His goal is to make his art accessible and affordable; this is achieved most uniquely by his invention of an Honor System Art Gallery, which invites people to select from a small body of art on the street, paying whatever they see fit.
EXHIBITION RECORD
2024 Two Person Show: More Heat Than Light, Pittsburgh, PA. 10 Art festivals: Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Cleveland (x2), Chicago, Bowling Green, Louisville, Tuscaloosa, Columbus
2023 9 Art festivals: Reston, Philadelphia, Columbus, Cleveland (x2), Chicago, Bowling Green, Dayton, Louisville
2022 8 Art festivals: Reston, Pittsburgh, Worthington, Chicago, Indianapolis, Columbus (x2), Dayton
2021 4 Art festivals: Pittsburgh (x2), Bowling Green, Chicago
2019 5 Art festivals: Pittsburgh, Columbus, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Chicago
2018 5 Art festivals: Pittsburgh, Columbus, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Chicago
2017 Three Rivers Art Festival, Columbus Arts Festival 2016 Columbus Art Festival, Columbus OH
2015 Three Rivers Art Festival, Pittsburgh PA 2015 Easton Art Affair, Columbus OH 2014 Three Rivers Art Festival, Pittsburgh PA 2014 Shadyside Art Festival on Walnut Street, Pittsburgh PA
2013 Three Rivers Art Festival Emerging Artist, Pittsburgh PA
2012 Two Person Show: Follow the Brush at Gallery 831, Columbus OH, Two Person show at Edit Gallery, Richmond VA
2011 Solo Show at Edit Gallery, Richmond VA
GRANTS/AWARDS
2019 Mark Stein Memorial Award at Three Rivers Art Festival
2018 Jurors Merit Award at Cain Park Art Festival 2014 Emerging Artist Scholarship (2nd year) at Three Rivers Art Festival
2013 Emerging Artist Scholarship (1st year) at Three Rivers Art Festival
BLOGS
“Send in the Clohns: John Lee, the Cardboard Caravaggio” https://pittsburghorbit.com/2019/11/17/send-in-the-clohns-john-lee-the-cardboard-caravaggio/
“More Heat Than Light: John Lee and Rachel McFarlane David at Unsmoke Systems” https://pittsburghorbit.com/2024/05/08/more-heat-than-light-john-lee-and-rachel-mcfarlane-david-at-unsmoke-systems/