The One Piece Show Returns >>> Dec 5th & 6th >>> First Friday >>>

The One Piece Show Returns >>> Dec 5th & 6th >>> First Friday >>>

Dean Johnson:

The One Piece Show
Returns December 5 & 6

Enjoy a First Friday opening reception or a Saturday reception & panel discussion, all happening at Schwitzer Gallery in Factory Arts District. Opening weekend coincides with Factory Arts’ All Decked Out Market December 5-6.

If you miss the opening on First Friday, join us Saturday, December 6, from 1pm-4pm and catch the panel discussion in Schwitzer Gallery at 2pm, Real Talk: The Creative Life, offering insights into four artist’s creative practice, approach, intentions, and outcomes. 

The One Piece Show 
Factory Arts District in Schwitzer Gallery
Opening reception: Friday, December 5, 6 - 9pm
Saturday reception: Saturday, December 6, 1 - 4pm
Panel discussion: Saturday, December 6, 2pm
Show is open thru December 28

Add me to the mailing list

Announcing our 2025 artists!

PHOTOS FROM THE 2023 SHOW AT SCHWITZER GALLERY
Here are just a few photos of the artwork from The One Piece Show in 2023 at the Schwitzer Gallery at Factory Arts District. We’re looking forward to another great show in December 2025!

Art gallery interior with modern sculptures and paintings displayed on pedestals and walls. The space features various artworks, including abstract and figurative pieces, against a white-walled background. The floor is wooden, and ceiling lights illu
Art gallery interior with a sculpture of a whimsical red and black figure adorned with ornaments, prominently displayed. Paintings and artworks line the bright walls in the background.
A gallery displaying various art pieces, including an abstract geometric artwork, a colorful portrait, and a sculpture of a man in a suit.
A gallery wall with various artworks in different styles, including a vintage portrait, abstract painting, and modern graphic designs.
Art gallery interior with sculptures, paintings, and framed photos on display.
Gallery wall displaying a black and white cityscape photograph, a vertical abstract sculpture, two abstract paintings with blue and pink tones, and another artwork with blurred colors in a frame.
Art gallery wall with various artworks, including colorful abstract paintings, a black and white photograph, and a cartoon piece with animals.
Contemporary art gallery with sculptures and paintings displayed on walls and pedestals.
Art gallery wall displaying various paintings and photographs, including a landscape with a cottage, abstract forest scene, portrait, abstract piece with text, floral still life, and a sculpture on a pedestal.

Bruce Dean and Scott Johnson founded Dean Johnson Design in 1987.

Founded in 1987, Dean Johnson Design began as a partnership between Bruce Dean and Scott Johnson, built on a shared belief in the balance of art and design. They blended creative illustration and expressive art with a strong design sensibility — all fueled by a simple premise: to have fun and enjoy the process.

The team was small but mighty. Never more than a dozen people, yet driven to take on branding, design, and marketing challenges for everyone from scrappy startups to Fortune 500s. The studio created logos, brand identities, and full campaigns across print, digital, and video — along with books, publications, signage, and packaging. And when time allowed, they made and exhibited art with their friends.

Black and white photo of two men sitting on stairs, smiling, wearing casual clothing.

Keep in touch with Dean Johnson.

DESIGN

Graphic design was at the heart of Dean Johnson Design, supporting an incredible group of clients for over 20 years. Arts orgs like the Indiana Repertory Theatre, the Phoenix, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Indiana Historical Society and Clowes Memorial Hall. Sports teams and events from the Pacers to the RCA Tennis Championships to all 88 NCAA championships. International groups like Lilly and Kiwanis. Local, state, and regional economic development groups and communities. We relished working with Some Guys Pizza, Broad Ripple Brewpub, Loughmiller’s, Cafe Patachou, and Best Chocolate in Town. 

ART

From their early offices above the Elbow Room in downtown Indy, Bruce and Scott added an art studio in the Stutz Building. There, in 1994, they helped launch The Stutz Show alongside a motley but dedicated crew of artists. A few years later, Dean Johnson Design brought everything under one roof with a new space on Mass Ave — complete with room to hang some artwork.

The idea for the Dean Johnson Gallery was born over beers after an Art Directors Club meeting. Inspired by a Toronto agency that housed its own gallery, Bruce and Scott thought, “Why not?” So when they built their new Mass Ave office, they made room for art.

Opened in 1996, Dean Johnson Gallery became part of downtown Indy’s vibrant art scene, hosting eight to ten shows a year that showcased graphic, commercial, and fine art. Its first official exhibition, The One Piece Show, debuted that November.

That same year, the Arts Council of Indianapolis honored Dean Johnson with its prestigious ARTI Award for contributions to the arts. Over the next 15 years, the gallery earned frequent “Best in Indy” nods from Indianapolis Monthly and Nuvo Newsweekly. What began as a creative outlet became a true cultural gift to downtown Indianapolis.

GALLERY

At first, the gallery featured work from friends — local illustrators, photographers, painters, and sculptors. Soon, it grew to include exhibits by groups like Hatch Show Print, Bald-Headed Potters, Purdue Ceramists, Latin American Hoosiers, Scratchboard Artists, and Bombers, a graffiti collective.

Over the years, Dean Johnson hosted 15 One Piece Shows and dozens of group exhibitions. The gallery became a community hub — a space for students, nonprofits, community groups, and even the occasional wedding party. For friends, clients, and supporters, it was a cornerstone of the Mass Ave art scene.

Two men sitting on stairs in a black and white photo, smiling at the camera.

Dean Johnson Design & Gallery was much more than two guys.

Over 25 years, Dean Johnson Design became much more than Bruce and Scott. It was the sum of scores of staff, friends, clients, artists, and collaborators — a creative community that worked hard, laughed often, and made Indy a more interesting place to live.

The studio’s clients gave them the opportunity to build brands and tell stories; the artists brought their creativity and courage; and the audience gave it all meaning. Dean Johnson Design was an experiment in commerce, creativity, and connection — a place where art met business, and everyone was invited to be part of it.