Grace Mott Johnson

Grace Mott Johnson (July 28, 1882 – March 12, 1967) was an American sculptor known primarily for her renditions of animals. After a home education she studied at the Art Students' League and exhibited at the 1913 Armory Show. She was married to the painter Andrew Dasburg, and the couple were parts of the artistic communities of Paris, New York, and New Mexico.

Early life Johnson was born July 28, 1882, in New York City to Laura Mott Riverdale and Alfred Van Cleve Johnson, a Presbyterian minister. Her grandfather was the classical scholar Ebenezer Alfred Johnson. She began drawing when she was four years old, and when the family moved to a farm in 1900 she enjoyed sketching horses and other farm animals. At the age of 22, she left home to study at the Art Students' League with sculptors Gutzon Borglum and James Earle Fraser, and also attended Birge Harrison's painting class in Woodstock. Throughout her career she would sculpt animals from memory, as she was adamant that animals could not be sketched. She would often attend circuses and farms for inspiration. In fact, for many summers she followed traveling circuses to observe the animals.

Career

In 1909, Johnson and painter Andrew Dasburg went to Paris and joined the modernist circle of artists living there, including Morgan Russell, Jo Davidson, and Arthur Lee. During a trip to London that same year they were married. Johnson returned to the United States early the next year, but Dasburg stayed in Paris where he met Henri Matisse, Gertrude Stein and Leo Stein, and became influenced by the paintings of Cézanne and Cubism. He returned to Woodstock, New York, in August and he and Johnson became active members of the artist community. In 1911, their son Alfred was born. Both Dasburg and Johnson showed several works at the legendary Armory Show in 1913. During the 1930s, she became a civil rights activist. She had many friends in the arts community in Harlem and was an active representative of the NAACP. She produced a notable series of portraits of African American adults and children. She produced very little art during the last twenty years of her life.

Legacy Her artwork is still highly valued within the art community, with it going above estimates in auction. Her sculpture of a Grey hound sold for $3,884 at auction in 2006, which was 56% above the estimate. Her portrait of a hunting dog sold for 549% above estimated auction. Her bronze figure of a lamb sold for $2,420 when the estimate was $1,000-$1,500.