The Art of Michael Johnson: 2021

21 November 2021

An Illustrator's Life in Sixties London

"London was the centre of the music scene of the time. England bands became worldwide stars and there was an amazing explosion of musical talent, with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones at the front. Music was everywhere.

Pop Art was also going strong.

... David Hockney appeared at the art shows in a gold lame jacket and showed paintings of Celia Birtwell and Ozzy Clark, who had a shop in the King's Road. Michael Chow's restaurant in Knightsbridge had paintings by Jim Dine, Patric Caulfield, R.B. Kitaj and Eduardo Paolozzi on the wals.

Allen Jones had some 3D chrome-plated women's breasts in the Meridiana next to a Coca-Cola logo, which was changed to Cosa-nostra by Harry Peccinotti, as well as a sculpture by Paolozzi on the terrace upstairs. Everywhere you looked you saw seriously good art on show.

60s Fashion 1965

The rag trade was booming too. Carnaby Street opened up selling trendy gear and the King's Road became magnet for thousands of people on Saturday afternoons...

I remember seeing Keith Richards in Alvaros wearing a black Spanish hat and the round black sunglasses with a sheepskin on his shoulders and a large German iron cross on his chest.."

Illustration Magazine #36 / Summer 2013

16 November 2021

An Illustrator's Life in Sixties London: The Italians

Top (L-R): Enzo Apicella, restaurateur Walter Mariti at the Meridiana, Roy Pegram.

In the camera lens: Rosie and Michael Johnsons.

Bottom (L-R): Avril Pegram, Adriana Di Coppola and Giannetto Coppola

"... Living in London your social life was part of the same scene. Most of my first friends were Italian, brought in by my then agent Bryan Colmer, who "imported" about 18 illustrators and designers.

We all lived in Chelsea or Kensington and they knew all the Italian restaurants and their owners, who in turn became my friends as well - Mario and Franco at the Terrazza. Walter Mariti and Enzo Apicella at the Meridiana, Alvaro and Dante at the Aretusa Club and Mara and Lorenzo at the San Lorenzo...

In those days that area of London was relatively cheap.

Top (L-R): Renato Fratini, Enzo Apicella, Giannetto Coppola

Bottom : Enzo Ragazzini

Renato Fratini became godfather of my youngest daughter [Rebecca] and we often all ate together, along with Gino D'Achille, Pino Dell'Orco, Enzo Ragazzini, Giannetto Coppola and Adriana Di Coppola and of course Enzo Apicella, who was very social and, because he was a restaurant owner and designer, we were invited to new restaurant openings.

Through him, I met people such as Francis Bacon, Frank Auerbach and Robert Raushenberg, as well as Christine Keeler, photographer's models and a few film people.

(L-R): Giannetto Coppola, Unknown, Pino Dell'Orco, Renato Fratini
Clara Fratini

We worked hard all day, but spent a lot of evenings in restaurants.

I had and arrangement with Walter Mariti at the Meridiana where he would choose a painting at an agreed price. I then would sign the bills until it was paid off.

From Illustrators #4/Summer 2013

Graphic designer Germano Facetti (top) and Enzo Apicella

Penguin Books designer Germano Facetti

We also went to clubs such as Annie's Room, occasionally Ronny Scott's and Tramps, and of course to the Aretusa, with another different mix of people."