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. 
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​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
2017
Ecocentric, Gordon Parks Gallery, St Paul, MN
2016
Love, SooVAC, Soo Visual Arts Center, Minneapolis, MN
Once in a While, solo exhibition, Phipps Center for the Arts, Hudson, WI
2015
Everything Must Go, solo exhibition, Franconia in the City @ Casket, Minneapolis, MN
2014
Take Me With You, John Michael Kohler Art Center, Sheboygan, WI
2013
Strong Women, Jewish Museum of NJ, Newark, NJ
2012
Iron Maidens, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, MN
2011
An Exchange with Sol Lewitt, MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA
2010
National Iron, Missoula Art Museum, Missoula, MT
Carnival, Bootleg Exhibitions, Indianapolis, IN
2009
I Heart Art Wassaic Project Benefit, WORK Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Paradigm Shift, MCAD, Minneapolis, MN
2008
Living Clay Heavenly Flame, two person exhibition with Jonathan Bridges, WORK Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Franconia 12 Years of Casting Sculpture, Stillwater Public Library, MN
2007
Wicked Matter, Larson Gallery, St Paul, MN
Iron Tribe, Highlands University Gallery, Las Vegas, NM
2006
Construct-N-Strut, Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis MN
Art of the Doll, Pump House Regional Arts Center, La Crosse, WI
Untitled 5, SooVac, Minneapolis, MN
Iron Bridging Art + Technology: Past, Present + Future, Ironbridge Gorge Museum, Ironbridge, Telford, UK
2005
56th Arrowhead Biennial, John Steffl Gallery, Duluth Art Institute, Duluth, MN
2004
Art of Democracy Tools of Persuasion, MAEP Gallery, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
Move, Rochester Art Center, Rochester, MN
2003
Art on the Plains 6, Plains Art Museum, Fargo, ND
Nothing New II, The Textile Center of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
2002
9/11, Rochester Art Center, Rochester, MN
2001
Hot House, The Soap Factory, Minneapolis, MN 

EMPLOYMENT
Public Art Saint Paul, Director of Education, 2013-present
Adjunct Professor, Sculpture, St John's University, Spring 2016-present
Franconia Sculpture Park, Education Coordinator, summers 2010 & 2011
 

(CV available on request)