Merritt Johnson facts for kids

Merritt Johnson (born in 1977) is an American artist who creates modern art. Her artwork often focuses on themes related to Native American cultures and experiences.

Early Life and Learning

Merritt Johnson was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1977.

She discovered her love for art at a very young age when she found a book filled with paintings by the famous artist Picasso.

She studied art at college, earning a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from Carnegie Mellon University. Later, she earned a Master's degree in Fine Arts from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

Her Art and Career

Johnson has shared that people from different backgrounds sometimes see her art in different ways. This is because some people might not know much about Indigenous cultures, terms, or history. She mentioned that when people think of Native American art, they sometimes only imagine "beads and feathers."

Merritt Johnson uses traditional materials in her art. She does this to highlight important issues that have a long history for Indigenous communities.

About Her Ancestry

From 2014 to 2018, Merritt Johnson described herself as having Mohawk and Blackfoot heritage, or being of "mixed Kanienkehaka (Mohawk), Blackfoot, and non-Indigenous descent."

However, in May 2021, questions were raised about her claims of Indigenous ancestry. After this, Johnson decided to remove her artwork from an exhibition at the Fruitlands Museum that featured works by Native American artists.

Where Her Art Is Kept

Merritt Johnson's artwork is part of the permanent collections at these museums:

• Birmingham Museum of Art, located in Birmingham, Alabama
• Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, located in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Art Shows and Exhibitions

Solo Shows

• Merritt Johnson: Exorcising America – 2018 (Salt Lake City, Utah) – In this show, Johnson used a model to represent the challenges Indigenous people have faced. She also showed their deep love and connection to their land.

Group Shows

• Monarchs: Brown and Native Contemporary Artists in the Path of the Butterfly – 2019 (Overland Park, Kansas) – This exhibition explored the difficulties Native people have experienced, such as being forced to change their ways or facing unfair treatment. The butterfly in the title represents the many generations who have lived through these challenges while staying connected to their native lands.
• New Acquisitions: 2011–2017 – 2018 (Santa Fe, New Mexico) – This show highlighted new artworks that the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA) had added to its collection over six years.
• Connective Tissue: New Approaches to Fiber in Contemporary Native Art – 2017 (Santa Fe, New Mexico) – This exhibition featured Native American artists who use different types of fiber art. Fiber art uses materials like fabric or yarn. The artists in this show had similar styles but explored different ideas or themes. Fiber art is interesting because it connects to cultural heritage and new ways of using old traditions.
• Opening Exhibition (Oakland, California) – This show brought together various artists who explored themes like the environment, social class, and race in the United States.
• On Being Illiberal – 2018 (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) – This exhibition featured three different artists who presented ideas for a future led by Indigenous people.

Personal Life

Merritt Johnson is married and has six children, including her own and stepchildren. She lives with her family in Sitka, Alaska.