Background
He was born in Overhalla as a son of farmers Peter Rian (1856–1934) and Elen Blengslien (1864–1952).
He was born in Overhalla as a son of farmers Peter Rian (1856–1934) and Elen Blengslien (1864–1952).
He studied at the Norwegian National Academy of Fine Arts from 1928 to 1930 under Axel Revold.
Johs Rian also worked at the family farm, but left this career in 1927 to pursue painting. Rian exhibited at Kunstnerforbundet several times between 1930 and 1957, and also at the São Paulo Biennal in 1967/68. From 1960 he mainly exhibited in Galleri Haaken.
He also started painting nonfigurative art
The Norwegian Museum of Contemporary Art owns eight of his paintings.