Clare Johnson
A Life in Sticky Notes
A sprawling yet deeply intimate work that honors what ordinary communication cannot: all the separate moments held within ourselves, endlessly overlapping, collapsing, and refocusing over time.
- May 7 - June 18, 2026
- Opening: Thursday, May 7, 6:00 — 8:00pm
Second Reception: Thursday, June 4, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Clare Johnson has drawn or written on a Post-it note every night for nearly two decades, saving a small piece of each ending day. This exhibition allows viewers to peruse every sticky note made so far, spanning Johnson’s life across years and continents—the vast majority made public for the first time. Using Post-its acknowledges both the urgency and ordinariness of wanting to hold onto passing moments. They save memories but are also a reminder that time passes regardless, and we can’t hold on to everything.
Fusing elements of memoir, oral history, art and poetry, she approaches each note as if speaking only with herself, alone at the end of the day with no need to explain. This casual intimacy renders them paradoxically both familiar and mysterious, building fragmented, palimpsestic narratives from night to night. Over time, Johnson has also come to recognize how intertwined this nightly ritual is with her queer identity. “The erasure of my community from history is both commonplace and brutal,” she says. “An extravagant record of a life made of tiny disposables—tangibly saving private moments, but on something meant to be thrown away—acknowledges that loss while also fighting it.”
This exhibition was supported by a 4Culture Arts Project Grant.
Artist Talk: Saturday, May 9, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Presented in partnership with Humanities Washington’s Speakers Bureau, join Johnson for a talk about the origins of the project and the stories behind the Post-its. Q&A to follow.
Interactive Post-it Activity: Saturday, May 9, 12:00 – 1:00 pm Immediately following the talk, Johnson will lead a drop-in activity for all ages. Create your own Post-it in the spirit of the exhibition. No experience necessary.
About the Artist
Clare Johnson is a painter, writer, and public artist whose work celebrates overlooked spaces, histories, and memories. Her honors include fellowships and residencies from Jack Straw, Hugo House, Crosstown Arts, Surel’s Place, and James Castle House. Recent public art projects include an art scavenger hunt on the backs of traffic signs in West Seattle, a permanent supportive housing mural in Burien, and window art in Cal Anderson Park exploring HIV and family—the originals of which are on view in the lobby of Gay City: Seattle’s LGBTQ+ Center. She is editor of the Washington State Queer Poetry Anthology (a free website published in 2025) and the author of two lyric memoirs about growing up queer in Seattle during the AIDS crisis, published through the Department of Neighborhoods’ blog and the free app TrailOff, which pairs her audio narrative with a walking route through Capitol Hill. In 2026-27, Johnson will present a new talk about her sticky note practice through Humanities Washington’s Speakers Bureau at venues across the state.