Early Life and Education
William Henry Johnson, an African-American painter, was born on March 18, 1901, in Florence, South Carolina. He attended the first public school in Florence, the all-black Wilson School on Athens Street, where he was introduced to sketching by one of his teachers, Louise Fordham Holmes. Johnson practiced drawing by copying comic strips in newspapers and considered a career as a newspaper cartoonist.
Career
Johnson moved to New York City at 17 and worked various jobs to save money for classes at the prestigious
National Academy of Design. He studied with Charles Webster Hawthorne, who emphasized the importance of color in painting. Johnson received several awards at the National Academy of Design and was awarded the
Harmon Gold Medal in 1929.
Artistic Style and Influences
Johnson's style evolved from realism to expressionism to a powerful folk style, for which he is best known. He was influenced by his time in France, where he learned about modernism, and his experiences in Scandinavia, where he was exposed to strong folk art traditions.
Notable Works and Exhibitions
A substantial collection of Johnson's paintings, watercolors, and prints is held by the
Smithsonian American Art Museum, which has organized and circulated major exhibitions of his works. Some notable works include:
Awards and Recognition
Johnson received the
Harmon Gold Medal in 1929 and was recognized as a "real modernist" for his spontaneous, vigorous, and firm style.
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