Joshua Johnson

artist bio

Joshua Johnson was the first African American artist to gain recognition in the United States. Working primarily as a portrait painter in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, his works offer a unique glimpse into the lives of middle-class families of the era, rendered in a distinctive, self-taught style.

what you'll learn

Studying Johnson's work allows students to explore themes of representation, identity, and the development of American art. Students can also analyze the characteristics of Naïve Art and its departure from academic painting traditions.