Russell Johnson

Russell Johnson, is an international filmmaker, photographer, and author whose lifelong creative journey has taken him from the frozen landscapes of Minnesota to the volcanic terrain of Hawaii and, most recently, the geothermal drama of Yellowstone.

His exhibition, Patterns of Fire and Ice, traces this remarkable arc. It began decades ago at the University of Minnesota, when a class assignment prompted him to photograph textures and abstractions in the dead of winter: frozen waterfalls, iced-over tires resembling glazed donuts, and even his own bicycle transformed into a sugared sculpture. Years later, Johnson discovered “fire” in the flowing lava of the Big Island of Hawaii, where he glimpsed the fleeting image of a running man in molten stone.

In October 2025, Johnson finally visited Yellowstone. Amid the crowds, he focused his lens on the otherworldly beauty of its steaming pools—swirling patterns and abstract shapes that echo the Fire and Ice theme. The exhibition presents photographs spanning this creative evolution, from that early snow-covered bicycle to this year’s Yellowstone impressions.

A video interpretation of Johnson’s Yellowstone experience is available at connectedtraveler.com, and more of his photography can be seen at russelljohnson.com.