Johnny Allison
Professional
Muralist
Johnny Allison is a professional South African muralist based in Pretoria and recognised as one of the few truly exceptional artists in his field. Unlike graffiti, which often carries a raw street expression, Johnny’s murals are designed to beautify and transform spaces, bringing vibrant creativity to corporate offices, restaurants, retail stores, and public spaces.
Proudly calling Pretoria his home, Johnny’s artistry extends across the country. His murals can be found in Cape Town, Gqeberha, Durban, Johannesburg, Midrand, Centurion, Welkom, Qwa Qwa, and many other towns and cities across South Africa. His work is admired for its ability to merge artistic vision with functional design, creating environments that inspire and engage.
You may already know Johnny’s style from the iconic Chicken Licken murals that have become landmarks in many neighbourhoods. While some might think of him as a street artist for hire, his portfolio positions him firmly as both an indoor and outdoor mural painter, specialising in custom, commissioned artwork for businesses and individuals.
Johnny Allison’s murals are ideal for:
Restaurants and cafés – adding atmosphere and personality.
Shops and retail spaces – branding walls that attract customers.
Churches – creating inspiring and spiritual environments.
Malls and commercial centres – turning blank walls into focal points.
Lodges and hospitality venues – enhancing guest experiences.
Whether you need a branding mural, a decorative wall painting, or a custom artistic statement, Johnny Allison brings your vision to life. If you’re looking for a muralist near you, with proven experience and a national footprint, Johnny Allison is the artist for your wall.
Roots
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 .
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.
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.
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”
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.
Looking Ahead
Following public murals across the country, he plans residencies in Bali and Japan, where he will expand his mural practice globally.
Johnny Allison is a creative force: part visionary, part community builder, and entirely committed to making art that resonates—both visually and socially.
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It depends on the scale of the wall, but I alway dedicate about a week each project. It helps to have assistance with some of my projects, I love to help those around me by transferring skills.
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My biggest commission has been my partnership with Chicken Licken. To date I have completed about 30 walls nation wide including a few in Botswana.
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I have found Deluxe PVA Acrylic to be the best quality paint to use as my primary medium for my murals. The paint is said to last over 10 years.