Interview
Johnny Cakes
John Labieniec, AKA Johnny Cakes is a Greater New Haven CT-based mixed-media artist whose work is a profound excavation of the internal landscape shaped by trauma and the relentless reality of “life on life’s terms.” A Licensed Social Worker with a Master’s in Social Work, I bring a clinical depth to the canvas, informed by 26 years of personal recovery and a veteran of street outreach . This unique lens transforms my art into a necessary human document—one that maps the visceral spaces in between suffering and survival. Drawing on two decades of experience across experimental music, film, abstract art and photography, Johnny Cakes current practice centers on high-texture, industrial assemblages. By integrating found objects such as wire, mesh, and electrical conduit into a raw, arterial palette of deep reds and somber shadows, he builds a rugged landscape that mirrors the psychological scars and structures of the human experience.
Johnny's work recently gained professional traction at the Darkside Arts and Oddities Expo in New Jersey, where my pieces successfully entered private collections. Johnny's art does not seek to provide comfort; instead, it demands an honest, haunting gaze into the resilience required to navigate all of those "spaces in between." Each piece is a tactile narrative of endurance, inviting the viewer to confront the beauty sought within a gritty ugly reality.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“My journey is one of radical transformation—from tragedy to recovery. Surviving a chaotic childhood, I spent twelve years navigating addiction, homelessness, and institutions. However, the last 25 years of recovery have been defined by a series of ‘gifts.’ Today, I am a husband, a father, and a licensed social worker. My background in music and human service has deeply informed my art; I view my creative process as an extension of my own healing, using mixed media to tell the stories of resilience and the often unpleasant ‘spaces between’ that I’ve witnessed and lived”
What inspires you?
“My inspiration is rooted in human stories—specifically those of people who have been broken; the lepers of society. I’m fascinated by the intersection of the absurd and the visceral. Heavily influenced by the cinematic worlds of David Lynch, the ‘Evil Dead’ franchise, and films that leave you saying ‘WTF,’ I create art that mirrors the intensity of the music I love. From the atmosphere of horror to the industrial weight of Nine Inch Nails, my work is heavy, textured, and unapologetic chaos.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I’m drawn to the mystery of darkness and the shock of controversy, using metaphors to create a sense of intrigue. I enjoy being provocative and suggesting narratives that aren’t always comfortable. In fact, after seeing my piece ‘People Make Me Sick,’ someone jokingly suggested I must be an ‘undercover psychopath.’ It’s a funny observation because my reality is the exact opposite: I’m a compassionate social worker dedicated to feeding and aiding the unhoused. My work is an oxymoron—I navigate the heaviest parts of the human condition by day, and I process those complexities through the raw, industrial textures of my art by night.”
How would you describe your work?
“I’d describe my work as dark, absurd, and intentionally jarring. I like to play with movement and sound to create an immersive, slightly unsettling experience. For example, I have a series featuring decapitated doll heads on a rotating platform with a music box playing in the background. It creates this tension between childhood innocence and industrial horror—it’s about finding the beauty, or at least the truth, in things that have been broken or discarded.”
Which artists influence you most?
“My biggest influence is David Lynch, period. I actually have the Eraserhead tattooed on my calf. What resonates with me most is his ability to find the ‘mystery in the darkness’ and his use of industrial soundscapes and textures. Everything that man created is absurdly genius!”
What is your creative process like?
“When I’m in the zone, my process is a mess—my walls and myself are usually covered in paint. I always have music playing; it’s a state of controlled, untethered chaos. A piece isn't finished until my gut settles and tells me it’s done. I’ve learned to love how a mistake can completely transform a vision. To me, art is about being messy and being okay with things not looking perfect. It’s just like life—unpredictable, gritty, and rarely follows a straight line.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“An artist’s role is to make a statement and make it loud. An artists role is punk rock. We live in the epitome of a society that does the same thing over and over while expecting different results—it’s backwards, dysfunctional and straight up broken. For me, art has to be more than just something to look at; it needs to be woven into the fabric of our world to challenge the nonsense. My role is to make that dysfunction known—to take the 'insanity' of how we operate and blow it the hell up through my work.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I’m currently in an exciting phase of getting my name out there, with several projects in the works. Most recently, I had the opportunity to exhibit and sell a few paintings at the Darkside Art and Oddities Expo in New Jersey. It was a great environment for my work, as the audience there really connects with the macabre and the unconventional. Looking ahead, some of my photography will be featured in the Milford Photo Expo at the Milford Arts Center (opening May 14th). I’m also setting my sights on a showing in New York—fingers crossed on that front. It’s all about building momentum and finding those spaces where the ‘dark and absurd’ can really breathe.”
Website: www.aroadkillproduction.org
Other links: www.facebook.com/aroadkillproduction
