Mary Johnson is a Minnesota artist who creates sculptural assemblages from repurposed materials. Her work transforms domestic and utilitarian detritus into anthropomorphic forms while also preserving the history associated with their materials. Processes of mending, deconstructing, and sewing create an empathetic engagement with products that are designed to be disposable, and are used to create narratives between forms that question and offer alternatives to modes of production in contemporary throw away culture.
maryj99@icloud.com
EDUCATION
2007 MFA University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis MN
2003 BFA University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire WI
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
Ecocentric, Gordon Parks Gallery, St Paul, MN, 2017
Once in a While, (solo exhibition) Phipps Center for the Arts, Hudson, WI, 2016
Everything Must Go, (solo exhibition) Franconia in the City @ Casket, Minneapolis, MN, 2015
Take Me With You, John Michael Kohler Art Center, Sheboygan, WI, 2014
Strong Women, Jewish Museum of NJ, Newark, NJ, 2013
Iron Maidens, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, MN, 2012
An Exchange with Sol Lewitt, MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA, 2011
National Iron, Missoula Art Museum, Missoula, MT, 2010
Carnival, Bootleg Exhibitions, Indianapolis, IN, 2010
I Heart Art, Wassaic Project, WORK Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, 2009
Paradigm Shift, MCAD, Minneapolis, MN, 2009
Living Clay Heavenly Flame, (with Jonathan Bridges) WORK Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, 2008
Wicked Matter, Larson Gallery, St Paul, MN, 2007
Iron Tribe, Highlands University Gallery, Las Vegas, NM, 2007
Construct-N-Strut, Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis MN, 2006
Art of the Doll, Pump House Regional Arts Center, La Crosse, WI, 2006
Untitled 5, SooVac, Minneapolis, MN, 2006
Bridging Art + Technology, Ironbridge Gorge Museum, Ironbridge, Telford, UK, 2006
56th Arrowhead Biennial, Duluth Art Institute, Duluth, MN, 2005
Art of Democracy Tools of Persuasion, MAEP Gallery, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN, 2004
Move, Rochester Art Center, Rochester, MN, 2004
Art on the Plains 6, Plains Art Museum, Fargo, ND, 2003
Nothing New II, The Textile Center of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 2003
9/11, Rochester Art Center, Rochester, MN, 2002
Hot House, The Soap Factory, Minneapolis, MN, 2001
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Indulge in the 'Ecocentric', C.T. Corum, The Metropolitan, 2017
St. Croix cleanup turns into art, Dave Peterson, Star Tribune, 2015
Strong Women 2013, Armisey Smith, exhibition catalogue (cover and interior photographs), 2013
Exploring Western Sculpture Park in St Paul, Coco Mault, CBS Minnesota Arts & Culture, 2012
Iron Women: 16 female artists who sculpt with iron, Mary Abbe, StarTribune, 2011
Field Trip: No Permission Slips Necessary, Katie Czarniecki Hill, mnartists blog, 2011
Sideshow Soo, Jessica Armbruster, City Pages, June 2011
Paradigm Shift: Honoring Kinji Akagawa at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Kristin Makholm,
exhibition catalogue, Minneapolis College of Art and Design Press, 2009
ELEPHANTINE RABBIT DEBUT, Jim Gehrz, StarTribune, 2009
Frankenstuffed, Tom Hafner, The Minnesota Daily, 2006
56th Arrowhead Biennial, Christi Atkinson, exhibition catalogue, Winter 2004
Art from Recycled Materials, Teresa Paschke, Surface Design Journal, Spring Edition, Volume 28, 2004
Profile of an Artist, Nancy MacKenzie, Minnesota Textile Center, Newsletter, 2003
Art Show Reflects World We Live in Now, Rochester Post Bulletin, 2002
Hothouse Arts, Pioneer Press, 2001
OTHER
Public Art Saint Paul, Director of Education, 2013-present
Adjunct Professor, Sculpture, St John's University, Spring 2016-Spring 2017
Panelist at St John’s University Art Galleries, Collegeville, MN, 2012
Franconia Sculpture Park, Education Coordinator, 2010 & 2011
Visiting Artist, Open Field Iron Pour, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN, 2010
Franconia 3-D symposium on the road, Phipps Center for the Arts, Hudson, WI, 2008
Guest Artist, St Catherine College, St Paul, MN, 2008
Visiting Artist, KCAI sculpture department, Kansas City, MO, 2007
Viva and Jerry’s Country Videos, featured sculpture and guest appearance, 2007 & 2008
Soap Factory Gallery 4, MTN cable, 2006
(CV available on request)
