Ben Johnston’s street art jumps straight off the walls. The Toronto-based designer uses color, shadow, and perspective to create his three-dimensional typography work. Self-taught, before deciding to move back to Canada to pursue his passion full-time, he worked in an agency in South Africa.
His freelance career of branding and technology actually started by accident, after a friend asked him to create a piece for the entryway of a new office building. He then decided to shift his career to mural painting.
Johnston is also super disciplined, he told Scotty Russel of Perspective Podcast that he doesn’t spend more than four days on mural—preferring to work long hours than more days.
He also does client work and enjoys riding his bike in the morning to clear his mind. His inspiration comes from flipping through classic design books on Bauhaus and taking photos of vinyl peeling. The designer has a mood board dedicated to shadow references.
Check out more of his work below.
