Resume

1960. Born in Phoenix to Al and Birdie Johns. 

1965. Visits the Phoenix Art Museum where he remembers seeing works by Diego Rivera and Carlos Orozco Romero.

1969. Hangs his first solo exhibition, a collaboration with Sister Anne Lucy, at the Saint Francis Xavier Elementary School.

1976. Forms the “Bobo Boys,” (a self named neighborhood street gang). Drinks Coors beer and rides a ‘63 Honda Bentley.

1978. Hops a train on the Southern Pacific from Phoenix to New Orleans. Buses tables at the Maple Leaf Bar. Catches an impromptu guitar solo by Carlos Santa at the Maple Leaf. Falls in love with Mickey.

1980. Begins Transcendental Meditation (TM) becoming one of the first “Yogic Fliers” to levitate at the Golden Dome of Pure Knowledge, Maharishi University, Fairfield, IA.

1981. Meets Maharishi while working as a dish washer at the school cafeteria. Hops a train from Iowa to New York. Meets Jean Michel Basquiat and carves pumpkins at The Fun Gallery. Enrolls in a class taught by Larry Poons at the Art Students League.

1986. Returns to Phoenix and works at Decorative Design Associates for Tom Delapp and Sandy Love. Meets and befriends Andrew Phillip Cunanan at a pool party.

1995. Moves to the Madson Hotel in Phoenix. Tends bar at the Madson Bar and clerks at the Madson Minimart. Rents a studio at Faux Cafe Studios. 

2000. Moves to Reno. Lives and works at the Nugget Casino in Sparks, NV.

2008. Renews painting. Enrolls in a class taught by artist Michael Sarich at UNV Reno. Appropriates Sarich’s Mickey Mouse subject matter.

2013. Begins anew at art-making with a series of “street paintings” painted on the pages of newspapers and city walls.  Incorporates cartoon images from his childhood with hentai,  cos-play, and selfie images gathered from the internet.  Joins Paint Co-lab, a painting group loosely affiliated with Tunisian Collaborative Painting. Joins Eye Lounge Artist Collective in Phoenix, AZ. As a member of Paint Co-lab, exhibits WATER STUDIES at the Phoenix Art Museum.

2014. Begins photo-collage project “Bobo Journal” recollecting many years of transient art and travel. Produces Bobo Yo throw pillows as a failed get rich quick scheme. Exhibits in ArtFarm Collective’s NURTURING THE LANDSCAPE@ Oasis on Grand in Phoenix and SELF-MADE: 15 Years of Eye Lounge @ Vision Gallery in Chandler AZ. Exhibits in the VANGUARD SHOW at Eric Fischl Gallery, in Phoenix, AZ.

2015. Meets Mark Bradford and Eric Fischl at Phoenix College. Exhibits second Solo Show BOBO & FRIENDS at Eye Lounge in Phoenix. As a member of Paint Co-lab, exhibits BE OKAY at the Phoenix Art Museum.

2016. Solo exhibitions at Fair Trade Cafe and Side Bar Lounge in Phoenix, AZ. Group show at FOUND:RE Hotel in Phoenix.

2017. Solo exhibitions at Fair Trade Cafe and Side Bar Lounge in Phoenix, AZ. Group show at FOUND:RE Hotel in Phoenix. Exhibits DARK PORTRAITS in the VANGUARD SHOW at Eric Fischl Gallery, in Phoenix, AZ.

2018. Exhibits TRUMPED TOWER, with Paint Co-Lab, in the VANGUARD SHOW at Eric Fischl Gallery, Phoenix College, Phoenix, AZ.

2019. Solo show RE:APPROPRIATION opens at Found:RE Gallery in Phoenix, AZ.

2021. Retired.