Mark A. Johnson Tribal Art

Mark Johnson has been a collector and dealer of traditional Asian and tribal art for more than 35 years.  He has traveled throughout Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Burma, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and other regions of Asia searching out rare and interesting art and artifacts.  He is dedicated to acquiring and offering only authentic tribal art and antiquities of the highest quality and condition and guarantees all sales as described. 

His extensive inventory includes wood and stone sculpture, masks, textiles, beadwork, jewelry, basketry, pottery, ancient bronzes, architectural pieces, and other miscellaneous ethnographic objects.  He specializes in the tribal arts of Asia and the Western Pacific Islands, with a specific focus on the artifacts of Indonesia and the headhunting cultures of Borneo (Dayak), Sumatra (Batak), Sulawesi (Toraja), and Nusa Tenggara (Sumba, Flores, Timor cultures, etc.).  He has objects from the lesser-known tribal societies of the Himalayas, the Philippines (Bontoc, Ifugao), Formosa Island (Paiwan), Burma (Naga, Chin), Southern China (Li, Miao), and Indochina (Jorai).

Today, Mr. Johnson is considered one of the principal authorities in the United States on the Tribal Arts of Indonesia and Southeast Asia, specifically the arts of Borneo Island.  Through extensive travel, years of research, and study of important collections, he has gained significant experience and expertise on the material culture and history of the tribal peoples of this region.  He has lectured at galleries and museums, provided information, and loaned many rare objects from his collection to important exhibitions of Indonesian Tribal Arts in this country. 

He is the official advisor for the Indonesian tribal art collection at the Mingei International Museum in San Diego, California.  He is a founding member and first director of LOS ANGELES TRIBAL (formerly: Asian & Tribal Art-Los Angeles), an organization of Los Angeles based dealers working together to promote the local community of museums, collectors, and sources specializing in Tribal Art (for more information, please go to www.latribal.com).  He is a board member and editor for the e-newsletter of the Los Angeles based Ethnic Arts Council (EAC), an organization of collectors, dealers, and academics dedicated to advancing the knowledge and appreciation of ethnic arts (for more information, please go to www.ethnicartscouncil.org). 

Mark A. Johnson Tribal Art is currently based in Marina Del Rey (Los Angeles), California.  He exhibits annually at the highest caliber Tribal Art Shows in the United States (New York, San Francisco, & Los Angeles) and was an early pioneer on the internet for marketing Asian and Tribal Art via his website at www.markajohnson.com.

LIST OF MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS:

“Elemental Art of the Indonesian Archipelago”.  Selections form the collection of the Mingei International Museum, San Diego, CA.  2005-2006.

(Mr. Johnson is the Indonesian consultant for the Museum and an advisor on the exhibition catalog).

 “Facing East, Masks of the East and Artists Inspired by Them”.  Hammond Museum & Japanese Stroll Garden, New Salem, NY, 1999.

“A Transcultural Mosaic” objects from the permanent collection, including Indonesia and Southeast Asia.  Mingei International Museum, San Diego, CA, 1998-99.

“The Beaded Universe”, beadwork from around the world.  Mingei International Museum, San Diego, CA, 1997  (The exhibit traveled to New York and North Dakota).

“Beyond the Java Seas”, exhibit of Indonesian Art.  Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C., 1991-92  (This exhibit also traveled to several venues in the USA, Europe, and Australia).

“Hornbills and the Sacred Dragon”, exhibition of Indonesia Tribal Art.  Museum of Man, San Diego, CA, 1991 (Mr. Johnson was the guest curator and primary lender).

“The Other Face”, exhibition of Indonesian Tribal Art.  Mingei International Museum, San Diego, CA, 1991.

“Island Indonesia”, exhibition of Indonesian Tribal Art.  Irvine Fine Arts Center with the Bowers Museum, Orange County, CA, 1990.  (Primary lender).

“The Common Cord”, exhibition of Central Asian Textiles.  Seattle Art Museum, WA, 1986-87.  (Primary lender).

“The Eloquent Dead”, exhibition of Indonesian Tribal Art.  UCLA’s Fowler Museum of Cultural History, Los Angeles, CA, 1985.

THE AUTHENTICITY OF THESE PIECES IS GUARANTEED!

*A special note on authenticity: The objects that I offer for sale are, to the best of my knowledge and experience, authentic, traditional, cultural artifacts, meaning these items were originally made and used by the indigenous people living in the region.  These items were not made for resale to the tourist or decorative market.

This does not necessarily mean every item I have is an antique, although most of them are.  For example, in some regions of Indonesia there are tribal cultures that are still making traditional items for their own use.  However, generally speaking, most authentic artifacts tend to be made prior to the advent of the worldwide tourist explosion in the 1980s.

This is particularly true in Indonesia, where the majority of items openly sold in the marketplaces of Bali and Java today are reproductions or fakes. Unfortunately, many of these pieces show up for sale in the West (and now quite regularly on the Internet) as authentic artifacts.  All potential buyers and collectors need to be aware of this trend and exercise caution when purchasing items from inexperienced or disreputable sources.

I recommend investigating and questioning any new source and making sure that you get a complete and unconditional written guarantee of authenticity and condition.  I can not emphasis enough to research, read related publications, visit museum and private collections, and look at as many pieces as possible to help develop your own knowledge and experience. There are many competent and reputable sources and authentic objects available, if you do your homework.