John E. Stallings (born 1954 in Baltimore, Maryland) is a contemporary sculptor living in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. After experimenting with many forms of art, including painting and printmaking, he focused on sculpture and studied with sculptor Frank Gilliam in the mid-1970s. His style has been described as classic modernist minimalism, with an emphasis on simplicity of geometric form as an expression of beauty and power. Stallings is considered one of the top six sculptors specializing in stabile sculpture. Working primarily with steel and aluminum, he creates stabiles that accentuate their environments. He also works with stone and bronze.
Stallings believes that "the lines of good art should seem neither to begin nor end.” He feels that certain rules of nature also apply to art. In keeping with this philosophy, he infuses each piece with a sense of continuous motion and the ability to “interact” with its environment.
Working with the City of Johnstown and the local arts community, Stallings has proposed a public art program. Its mission, goals and plans are now being formulated by a recently formed group of area citizens representing the arts community, the City, local neighborhoods, area businesses and interested citizens.
