Story of an Artist

Daniel Dale Johnston (b. Sacramento, California, 1961; d. Waller, Texas, 2019) was an American singer-songwriter and a significant figure in the indie music scene of the 1990s. Johnston produced over twenty albums and as many singles within his lifetime to an ever-growing international audience. His influence as a songwriter and musician is evident in the numerous musical icons who have covered his songs, including Tom Waits, Eddie Vedder, Phoebe Bridgers, and Beck.

In addition to his successes in music, Johnston’s visual art has been widely celebrated at museums and galleries around the world, including the Whitney Museum of American Art’s Whitney Biennial in 2006. Numerous books and documentaries have been made about his art, life, and music including the award-winning documentary “The Devil and Daniel Johnston” (2005).