Malvin Gray Johnson
Encyclopedia
Malvin Gray Johnson was an African american
painter, born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina
. His family moved to New York
, where he studied art at the National Academy of Design
. He rose to prominence during the Harlem Renaissance
.
He was "the youngest member of the Harlem Renaissance artists...migrated to New York with his family at an early age...where he was influenced by French Impressionism and Cubism
." Malvin "was one of the most far-reaching and versatile artists of his period. He drew upon many stylistic sources and demonstrated the disciplined learning necessary for high levels of creative expression...as he became familiar with the works of the Impressionists and the Cubists his artistic style changed."
His work is often labeled as Symbolic Abstractionist, being one of the first African American artists to paint in the Cubist style.
Elements of his art seem also to derive from studies of African sculpture
. He concerned himself with technical aspects of light, composition, and form, and a desire to express the experience of the spirituals in terms of abstract
symbol
ism.
Like many other artists, Johnson worked on the Federal Arts Project during the Depression
. His work was displayed at many of the Harmon Exhibits in 1929 and the early thirties. In 1931 some of his work was hung in the Anderson gallery and the following year, the Salon of America displayed several of his paintings. In 1928 he won a prize at a Harmon exhibition, and in 1929 he won the Otto H. Kahn prize for painting. "Johnson's painting 'Swing low sweet chariot' was awarded the 1929 exhibition prize for best picture in the second Harmon group show." (Calo, p. 140)
Towards the end of his life, Johnson produced a group of watercolors of urban and rural blacks, many of which were set in Brightwood, Virginia
. These paintings from his final period, are more widely regarded as some of his finest works.
In "The Negro in American Culture," Margaret Just Butcher argued that some of Johnson's paintings "are among the most significant commentaries on the American Negro scene." Alain LeRoy Locke
said that Johnson captured the cynical humor and mythical desolation in the moods of blacks better than most artists. Viewing Johnson as a maturing experimentalist, James A. Porter wrote that his later work was expressed in terse, pregnant patches of color.
The exhibition of his oils, watercolors and drawings in 2002 at North Carolina Central University
, was the first since his death in 1934.
auctioned Malvin Gray Johnson’s celebrated painting Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, oil on canvas, 1928–29, for $228,000. It was the first time any significant work by Johnson had come to auction.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
painter, born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. His family moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where he studied art at the National Academy of Design
National Academy of Design
The National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, founded in New York City as the National Academy of Design – known simply as the "National Academy" – is an honorary association of American artists founded in 1825 by Samuel F. B. Morse, Asher B. Durand, Thomas Cole, Martin E...
. He rose to prominence during the Harlem Renaissance
Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned the 1920s and 1930s. At the time, it was known as the "New Negro Movement", named after the 1925 anthology by Alain Locke...
.
He was "the youngest member of the Harlem Renaissance artists...migrated to New York with his family at an early age...where he was influenced by French Impressionism and Cubism
Cubism
Cubism was a 20th century avant-garde art movement, pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, and inspired related movements in music, literature and architecture...
." Malvin "was one of the most far-reaching and versatile artists of his period. He drew upon many stylistic sources and demonstrated the disciplined learning necessary for high levels of creative expression...as he became familiar with the works of the Impressionists and the Cubists his artistic style changed."
His work is often labeled as Symbolic Abstractionist, being one of the first African American artists to paint in the Cubist style.
Elements of his art seem also to derive from studies of African sculpture
African sculpture
African sculpture varies widely with location. Each region has a unique style and meaning to their sculptures. The type of material and purpose for the sculpture reflects that of the region of creation.-Regional variations:...
. He concerned himself with technical aspects of light, composition, and form, and a desire to express the experience of the spirituals in terms of abstract
Abstraction
Abstraction is a process by which higher concepts are derived from the usage and classification of literal concepts, first principles, or other methods....
symbol
Symbol
A symbol is something which represents an idea, a physical entity or a process but is distinct from it. The purpose of a symbol is to communicate meaning. For example, a red octagon may be a symbol for "STOP". On a map, a picture of a tent might represent a campsite. Numerals are symbols for...
ism.
Like many other artists, Johnson worked on the Federal Arts Project during the Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. His work was displayed at many of the Harmon Exhibits in 1929 and the early thirties. In 1931 some of his work was hung in the Anderson gallery and the following year, the Salon of America displayed several of his paintings. In 1928 he won a prize at a Harmon exhibition, and in 1929 he won the Otto H. Kahn prize for painting. "Johnson's painting 'Swing low sweet chariot' was awarded the 1929 exhibition prize for best picture in the second Harmon group show." (Calo, p. 140)
Towards the end of his life, Johnson produced a group of watercolors of urban and rural blacks, many of which were set in Brightwood, Virginia
Brightwood, Virginia
Brightwood is a census-designated place in Madison County, Virginia. Its ZIP Code is 22715. The population as of the 2010 Census was 1,001.-Reference:*...
. These paintings from his final period, are more widely regarded as some of his finest works.
In "The Negro in American Culture," Margaret Just Butcher argued that some of Johnson's paintings "are among the most significant commentaries on the American Negro scene." Alain LeRoy Locke
Alain LeRoy Locke
Alain LeRoy Locke was an American writer, philosopher, educator, and patron of the arts. He is best known for his writings on and about the Harlem Renaissance. He is regarded as the "Father of the Harlem Renaissance"...
said that Johnson captured the cynical humor and mythical desolation in the moods of blacks better than most artists. Viewing Johnson as a maturing experimentalist, James A. Porter wrote that his later work was expressed in terse, pregnant patches of color.
The exhibition of his oils, watercolors and drawings in 2002 at North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University is a public historically black university in the University of North Carolina system, located in Durham, North Carolina, offering programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, professional and doctoral levels....
, was the first since his death in 1934.
Auction Records
On February 23, 2010, Swann GalleriesSwann Galleries
Swann Galleries is a New York auction house founded in 1941. It is a specialist auctioneer of antique and rare works on paper, and it is considered the oldest continually operating New York specialist auction house....
auctioned Malvin Gray Johnson’s celebrated painting Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, oil on canvas, 1928–29, for $228,000. It was the first time any significant work by Johnson had come to auction.
Works
- Meditation
- Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, 1929
- Woman Washing
- Negro masks, 1932
- Arrangement, 1933
- Toussaint L'Ouverture, 1933
- Harmony, 1933
- Sailor, 1933
- Nat Turner, 1934
- Postman, 1934
- Negro soldier, 1934
- Self-Portrait, 1934
- Brothers, 1934
- The Elks
- Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass
- Negro Pharaoh—Eighteenth Dynasty
- Roll, Jordan, Roll
- Dixie Madonna
- Ruby
- Red Road
- Convict Labor