Mandy Johnston is a multidisciplinary artist who works with alternative materials, experiential sculptural installation, alternative photographic and printmaking techniques. Her work explores human connectivity and fragility; constructed and often contradictory societal value systems. The themes are materially supported, for example, plastic straws as a medium to convey single use items or copper wire to suggest information transfer. Elements like fire and transferred shadows bring concepts of transience and memory to the forefront of her experiential sculptural installations.

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Johnston studied at the University of the Witwatersrand completing her MFA. She now lives in Cape Town running her artistic practice out of Fish Hoek. Her passion for sharing knowledge has led her to be involved in artist-led initiatives, to develop and present professional practice workshops and to mentor artists within her practice.

Johnston has presented many solo exhibitions, most recently showing at Circa Cape Town in 2024 and was presented as the festival artist of the Klein Karoo National Art festival 2019. Johnston’s work is part of multiple corporate and private collections such as RMB and ABSA. Awards include the PPC sculptors award, Ithuba trust award, Absa Atelier, Sasol new signatures and the Martiensen prize.