Born in Reykjavik, Iceland, in 1921, Jóhannes Jóhannesson studied art at the Barnes Foundation in the US from 1945 to 1946, then in Italy and France from 1949 to 1951. Working mainly as a successful goldsmith, Jóhannesson turned completely to painting after 1973.

Participating in the Avant-Garde in the Nordic countries, he was one of the founders and participants of the September exhibitions in Iceland from 1947, which became the chief forum for new art and remained as well into the 1950s.

Very involved in the cultural life in his country (he served in the Museum Council from 1965 to 1973), his work was exhibited in important group shows in national museums such as the Reykjavik Art Museum Asmundarsafn and The ASÍ Art Museum in Reykjavík.