ABOUT JOHNNY OTTO

Johnny Otto is what happens when art, rebellion, and sound collide.

A self-taught artist, filmmaker, composer, curator, and magazine publisher based in Los Angeles, Johnny Otto has spent over three decades creating bold, unfiltered, multi-disciplinary work that punches through the noise and speaks truth to power. His voice is distinct, his vision uncompromising.

Visual Artist
Johnny’s artwork has been exhibited in Los Angeles and internationally, often alongside some of the most influential names in the art world — including David Hockney, RISK, Shepard Fairey, Plastic Jesus, WRDSMTH, and more. His paintings blend raw symbolism with street-level urgency — a gritty fusion of social commentary and aesthetic risk. He’s shown at renowned venues including Compound Contemporary, 01 Gallery, Headquarters, Jeff Hamilton’s Street Art Fair, Radiant Space, Ministry Gallery, and the Project Angel Food Auction.

Filmmaker & Writer
With over 30 years of experience in film and animation, Johnny is an award-winning writer/director who has created a slate of indie short films, screenplays, and TV pilots. He has written for Netflix, PBS, and other major platforms, contributing to thought-provoking documentary series like Human: The World Within. His storytelling style is cinematic, poetic, and defiantly original.

TV Series in Development
Dream State – a sci-fi anthology exploring remote viewing and psychic warfare
The Retirement Plan – a drama that explores humanity in a world of robotics, and moral ambiguity

Composer
As a composer, Johnny Otto crafts sonic landscapes that are haunting, emotional, and layered — music that sounds like memory, movement, and resistance. His soundtracks underscore both his films and installations, giving voice to spaces and stories that live between the lines.

Publisher & Curator
In 2021, Johnny founded Art Squat Magazine, a publication dedicated to highlighting both emerging and established artists. As both editor and curator, he has built a creative platform that fosters honest dialogue and showcases voices that challenge the status quo. His curatorial projects reflect his belief that art should not only provoke, but connect and transform.

Featured In
Johnny’s work and perspective have been featured in LA Weekly, Artillery, VoyageLA, CanvasRebel, Bold Journey Magazine, Art Reveal Magazine, and the Paint the Streets Podcast, among others. These spotlights explore his philosophy, process, and the ever-evolving ecosystem of his creativity.

Johnny Otto isn’t trying to fit into the art world. He’s trying to burn a new path through it.