Sale 2528 - African-American Fine Art, January 30, 2020

Hung together in a single exhibition for the first time, the Johnson Publishing Company’s art collection makes a powerful statement, demonstrating the company’s recognition and support of visual artists. The collection displays the many directions that fine art and the country itself were heading in 1971—without a singular point of view and in seemingly opposite directions. But this variety perfectly reflects the important ideals of the Johnson Publishing Company—chronicling the breadth and depth of African- American life to a national audience. Linda Johnson Rice, the company’s CEO, and daughter of founder John H. Johnson, put it best: the company’s mission was to be the “curator of the African- American experience, past, present and future.” 1 This art collection is testament to their mission, and to the richness of African- American art and culture. Nigel Freeman Director, African-American Fine Art 1 Chicago Tribune, Johnson Publishing once chronicled black life in Ebony and Jet , Corilyn Shronshire and Lolly Bowen, April 9, 2019. Installation view of Assembly Hall . Bobby Rogers for Walker Arts Center.