Meet Johnny Otto

We recently connected with Johnny Otto and have shared our conversation below.

Johnny, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Good question. I guess being at it for such a long time and grueling along through so much turmoil has lead me to believe that I do deserve whatever success I achieve. I recently curated a group show and one of the other artists who is much more successful than I am said that he had imposter syndrome when he realized that he was showing along side all of these other great artists. I’ve never felt that. I see us all as peers because I know the hardworking that each and every artist has put into their craft. When I see someone who is amazingly successful and well-known, I know that they also went through a lot of crap to get to where they are. I just work hard an d try to appreciate every bit of success that comes along. God knows that I’ve worked my ass off for it.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am an Artist and Curator in the Hollywood area. I also Publish Art Squat Magazine. I’m currently working on the next issue of my magazine and planning several art exhibits including a group show and a solo show or two. I like to stay as busy as possible, so, if that weren’t enough, I am also composing my first instrumental album called The Pleistocene Time Dimension, which will be released in April for my birthday.

In my mischievous sojourns around the Hollywood area, I’ve been leaving my mark behind – BUY ART SAVE A CRAZY PERSON – which has gone viral. In response to the overwhelming success of this street art campaign of mine, I have launched my official store at buyartsaveacrazyperson.com , where people can buy apparel, original art and even limited NFTs.

2024 for me is all about building on the foundation of the things that I have done in the last 4-5 years. I am always pushing myself to do things that I haven’t done before.

Last year I was fortunate enough to show with some truly amazing artists including OG Able, Adam Stone, Aloy, Amy Smith, Atlas, Axis, BG183, Billy Morrison, BIO, Bobby Doran, Mister Cartoon, CES, Carly Ealey, Charlie Paige, Chloe Trujillo, Corie Mattie, Curtis Nunez, Chris Konecki, Dr.Dax, Dave Shutter, Dave Tour, Defer, Estevan Oriol, Evel, Gary Young, Gabor, Gregory Siff, Heaven, Kick, Kwest, Lefty, Louie Perez, Nicer, Norton Wisdom, Peter Tunney, Prime, Relic, Risk, Sever, Sel Dog, Sonny Boy, Svetlana Talabolina, Tazroc, Taz, Toons One!, T ravis Walker, Tristan Eaton, Sharky, Shepard Fairey, Vision, Vyal, Wane Cod, Plastic Jesus, WRDSMTH, Mark Estes, Tommy Hollenstein, Kevin Nealon, and Dave Navarro. We will see what this year brings!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The journey is about the journey and not about what may or may not be ahead in the road. All you have is NOW, so make the best of it. Work hard and enjoy what you are doing. Don’t look for excuses, look for answers. For me, the answer has always been to put my head down and do the hard work. I enjoy the process. If you, as an artist are not enjoying what you are doing then no reward at the end of the day will ever be enough.

My best advice is to work harder than everyone around you. Network. Make great friends with people who are doing what you are doing. Be busy with it every single day. Make yourself known. Make great work that stands out and make a statement. Be bold and shine. Do not be afraid of anything. You have one life that has been gifted to you…go for it all.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
I am currently looking for a space that I can use as a gallery to have events in. This has been something I’ve been after for the last few years. It will come when the time is right, I believe. I enjoy putting together events with fellow artists. They are my favorite people. The reason I do this is to get to know more and more artists and to feel the energy that they give to their art. I thrive on that. So, having a gallery that I can curate shows at is my ultimate goal. I am currently looking for a space in the Hollywood area. Someone to partner with who has such a space but doesn’t know what to do with it. There are so many spaces that have been vacant for years and years. I am putting this out there so that someone reading this will get in touch with me and we can work together on this.

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