Photos from Indonesian buying trips. A chance to see the locale and the people of Tribal Indonesia.. Graphic Images and text descriptions of a few of the pieces currently offered for sale.. Home

Welcome to Mark A. Johnson Asian & Tribal Art Information     Information about Mr. Johnson. his exhibits, contributions, and how to contact him.  Updated 10/24/01 Forthcoming Exhibitions      Previous Exhibitions Mark Johnson acquires and sells only authentic objects of high quality and condition from most regions of Asia. He specializes in the Tribal art of Southeast Asia, primarily the Indonesian Islands of Borneo, Sumatra, Sulawesi, and Nusa Tenggara (Flores, Sumba, Timor, etc.). The headhunting Dayak tribes of Borneo are a particular specialty. His collection includes, but is not limited to, antique sculpture, textiles, beadwork, jewelry, costumes, architectural pieces, basketry, and other miscellaneous ethnographic items.

His inventory also includes early Chinese and Southeast Asian bronzes, pottery (Neolithic to Ming), stone, wood carvings, porcelain, 17th to 19th century furniture, and screens. From other areas of Asia, he has Uzbek textiles, Philippines brass urns, Himalayan masks, Tribal Indian Artifacts.

Founding member and first director of Asian & Tribal Art-Los Angeles (ATALA), an association of Los Angeles based dealers in authentic, antique Asian and Tribal arts, cooperating to promote high standards and interest in our fields of expertise to the local art collecting community. Please go to: www.ata-la.com for further details, membership contact information, and current list of events in the Los Angeles area.

A discriminating collector and dealer of Asian and Tribal Art, Mr. Johnson has nearly 25 years of experience in the Asian Art field. He has participated as an advisor and/or lender to several exhibits of Asian Art, including:

FORTHCOMING EXHIBITIONS

Showing at the San Francisco Tribal Art Show, February 8th-10th, 2002. Fort Mason, San Francisco, California.

Showing at Ikon Ltd./Kay Richards, Bergamot Station 2525 Michigan Avenue, G4 Santa Monica, CA
Please join the Members of ATA-LA for A Very Special Art Event
"Twelve Dealers, Twelve Exhibitions (One Day, One Night)"
Friday, Feb. 15, 6-10pm COCKTAIL OPENING
Saturday, Feb. 16, 12-6pm EXHIBITION CONTINUES
Tel: 310-828-6629

(Enter from G Door on Michigan Ave. or enter from Parking Lot and proceed to G Building)

PREVIOUS EXHIBITIONS

Museum Exhibits

• "Facing East, Masks of the East and Artists Inspired by Them". Hammond Museum & Japanese Stroll Garden, New Salem, New York. April 17-August 14, 1999.
• "A Transcultural Mosaic". Objects from the permanent collection, including Indonesia and Southeast Asia, Mingei International Museum, San Diego, CA 1998 to 1999.
• "The Beaded Universe". Beadwork from around the world, Mingei International Museum, San Diego, CA 1997.
• "Beyond the Java Seas". The Smithsonian's traveling exhibit of Indonesian Art, 1991 to 1992.
• "Hornbills and the Sacred Dragon". Exhibit of Indonesian Tribal Art at the San Diego Museum of Man (where he was the guest curator), 1991.
• "The Other Face". Indonesian Art, Mingei International Museum, San Diego, CA 1991.
• "Island Indonesia". Indonesian Art, Irvine Fine Arts Center with the Bowers Museum, 1990.
• "The Common Cord". (Photos) Central Asian Textiles at the Seattle Art Museum, 1986 to 1987.
• "The Eloquent Dead". Indonesian Tribal Art at UCLA's Fowler Museum 1985

Photos from Recent Sales Exhibits

• "The Los Angeles Tribal, Folk, & Textile Show", at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California. November 2001.
• "Los Angeles Arts of Pacific Asia Show". October, 2001.
• "San Francisco Tribal Art Show", February, 2001, Fort Mason, San Francisco, California
• "Los Angeles Tribal Art Show", November, 2000, Santa Monica Civic Center, Santa Monica, California
• "Seattle Antiquities Show", October, 2000, Seattle, Washington.
• "New York International" Tribal Antiques Show, May, 2000 NYC
• "San Francisco Tribal Art Show", February, 2000, Fort Mason, San Francisco, California.
• "Tribal Arts Show" Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, California, February, 1999.
• "Arts of Pacific Asia Show " Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, California, February, 1999.
• "Arts of Pacific Asia Show ", Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, November, 1998.

*A special note on authenticity: The objects that I offer for sale are, to the best of my knowledge and experience, authentic, cultural artifacts. This means the pieces were originally made by and to be used by the people who made them and not items made for the tourist 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 existing tribal cultures that to this day are still making items for their use. However, generally speaking, most authentic artifacts tend to be made prior to the advent of the worldwide tourist explosion in the 1980's. This is particularly true in Indonesia, where nearly all of the items sold in the marketplaces of Bali and Java are reproductions or fakes. Unfortunately, most people who are buying these pieces do not know this (or care!) and often 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 be careful when purchasing items from unknowledgable or disreputable sources. Never assume that because you are told something is authentic, that it is. It is rare for good, old pieces to be found easily and cheaply, so if it sounds like a "bargain" there might be a reason for it. I recommend investigating and questioning any new source and making sure that you get a complete and unconditional written guarantee of authenticity and condition. Whenever possible, develop relationships with museums, curators, conservators and restorers, as well as with your sources to learn and verify as much of the information as you can. 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 competent and reputable sources and authentic objects available, if you do your "homework"! Collecting great, authentic Antiquities and Tribal Artifacts is a rewarding experience, but one must do it in a careful and thoughtful way.

			For an appointment at my Los Angeles location, contact: MARK A. JOHNSON ASIAN and TRIBAL ART 1-800-923-1653 P.O. Box 4746 - Irvine CA. 92616 (Mailing Address Only) email: asiaart@markajohnson.com Sales - Art Services - Art Rentals Please Sign Our Guestbook

Graphic Images and text descriptions of a few of the pieces currently offered for sale.

Information about Mr. Johnson - his exhibits, contributions, and how to contact him.

Photos from Indonesian buying trips. A chance to see the locale and the people of Tribal Indonesia.