emerged as a pivotal figure in the American art scene during the 1950s, playing a key role in the shift away from Abstract Expressionism toward new movements such as Neo-Dada, Minimalism, and Pop Art. Known for his use of familiar imagery, particularly flags, targets, and maps, Johns brought a concrete visual language to modern art that blurred the boundaries between everyday objects and high art. His work challenged traditional notions of symbolism and representation, and many of his pieces remain some of the most sought-after at auction, often selling for record-breaking prices.

Born in Augusta, Georgia, and raised in South Carolina, Johns aspired to be an artist from a young age. He briefly studied at the University of South Carolina before moving to New York City in the early 1950s. There, he encountered influential figures such as composer John Cage, choreographer Merce Cunningham, and painter Robert Rauschenberg. A visit to Pennsylvania to see Marcel Duchamp’s The Large Glass deepened his interest in conceptual approaches to art, especially the idea of the “readymade,” in which found objects are presented as finished works.

Throughout his career, Johns produced a wide and innovative range of work including paintings, drawings, prints, and sculptures. His achievements in printmaking place him among the greatest in history, alongside artists like Dürer, Rembrandt, Goya, Munch, and Picasso. Over more than five decades, Johns developed a distinctive aesthetic that shaped the future of American art and helped define its transition into new creative territories.