Daniel Johnston - Topic

Daniel Dale Johnston was born January 22, 1961 and remains an enduring and important American visual artist, songwriter and musician. However, success would not come easy for Daniel. He subsequently spent extended periods in psychiatric institutions after being diagnosed with a severe form of bipolar disorder that often featured psychosis. Despite setbacks and repeated bouts with stardom that aggravated his condition, Daniel continued to produce prolific work, and his songs were praised for their honest and compelling lyrics. Through the extended efforts of friends and family, Daniel released over twenty-five albums and published more than five- hundred songs through the span of his career. Originally aspiring to be a comic-book artist, Daniel drew incessantly. His art proved to have the same appeal as his music. In 2004, he finally took his place as a key American artist when his works were featured in the Whitney Museum of American Art Biennial. In 2005, his life became the subject of the critically-acclaimed documentary, The Devil and Daniel Johnston, directed by Jeff Feuerzeig, and the soon-to-be-expanded book, Hi, How Are You: The Life, Art, and Music of Daniel Johnston, written by Tarssa Yazdani and Don Goede. Daniel died on September 11, 2019. His art continues to exhibit domestically and internationally, and with each new generation, he finds an ever-expanding fan base around the world.