Johnny Allison is a Pretoria-born muralist, illustrator, painter, and multidisciplinary artist whose work thrives at the intersection of fine art, design, and community engagement.

Roots & Training

Raised in a creatively nurturing household, Johnny discovered his artistic voice early. He attended Pro Arte Alphen Park Performing & Creative Arts High School before earning a graphic design degree with cum laude honours from Inscape  . His career began in advertising, illustration, and even teaching, but the pull toward hands‑on, public art led him to fully embrace muralism after the pandemic  .

Artistic Vision

Johnny’s visuals are a vibrant fusion of magical realism, calm within chaos, and stained‑glass stylization, brought to life through bold lines and dynamic color palettes  . As he explains:

“My work always tends to be inspired by the mantra of finding calm in chaos” 

Community & Collaboration

He sees murals as powerful community connectors, weaving local culture, flora, and history into grand public pieces that are both aspirational and accessible  . Notable projects include a striking 80 m² installation at the Fourways Design Quarter and more than 50 murals nationwide, many in collaboration with brands like Chicken Licken.

Commissions & Creative Process

Whether working solo or alongside collaborators like his partner Hakopike, Johnny treats every mural as an illustrative brief—blending design thinking with visual playfulness. He seeks to let meaning emerge during the creative process.

Achievements & Aspirations

Named among Design Indaba’s Emerging Creatives 2023, Multiple public and private commissions across South Africa and Botswana, including with Investec, Sony Music, Heineken, and Halls, Held a solo exhibition, Random Order, at Cape Town’s Brutal Gallery.

What Drives Him

Johnny describes himself as a “gleeful grinder for good,” with a mission to excite, unite, and delight viewers by breaking down barriers and elevating South African visual narratives to international stages.