William Henry Johnson was a famous biracial painter who was born in North Carolina in 1901. He is a major figure in 20th-century art, even having a US postage stamp created in his honour.
April of 2013 • Requested by Heidi Durrow • Scifly font by Tomi Haaparanta
In 1956, Johnson’s life’s work was almost destroyed when his caretaker declared him unable to pay further storage fees. Instead, Helen Harriton, Mary Beattie Brady, and others arranged with the court to have Johnson’s belongings delivered to the Harmon Foundation with unconditional rights over all works. The foundation would use the works to advance interracial understanding and support African American achievements in the fine arts. On April 19, 1967, the Harmon Foundation gave more than 1,000 paintings, watercolours, and prints by Johnson to the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Johnson’s style evolved from realism to expressionism to a powerful folk style, for which he is best known. A substantial collection of his paintings, watercolours, and prints is held by the Smithsonian American Art Museum, which has organized and circulated major exhibitions of his works.