The Artists Association of Nantucket (AAN) and the Nantucket Historical Association (NHA) will host a selection of Seward Johnson’s sculptures from Daffodil Day through Columbus Day.

Nantucketers can enjoy, free of charge, the artwork of Johnson, whose lifelike bronze sculptures have been exhibited internationally for decades. “We are pleased to work with the NHA to bring Johnson’s excellent and interesting work to Nantucket for all to enjoy,” says Courtney Bridges, AAN executive director.

Sculptures will be on display at the NHA’s Hadwen House garden as well as around the Whaling Museum and at the AAN’s Cecelia Joyce and Seward Johnson Gallery.

All locations are in the Nantucket Cultural District. The life-sized sculptures will be sure to turn heads and make for great “photo ops” at all locations.

At the Hadwen House, these will include Monet, Our Visiting Artist, depicting Claude Monet standing at his easel;Déjeuner Déjà Vu, which is a play on Édouard Manet’s The Luncheon on the Grass; and two other pieces. At the Whaling Museum, God Bless America, which is inspired by Grant Wood’s American Gothic, will be outside the main entrance along with three other pieces.

Exhibited at the AAN, Sidewalk Judge is a reference to people watching from the benches on Main Street that Nantucketers will appreciate. There will also be a debut of a brand new sculpture completed this month at the artist’s studio.  It features the figure of Einstein riding a bicycle and has not been seen prior to this exhibit.   Visitors are encouraged to share their photos over social media using the hashtag #ACKSewardJohnson.

“This concept originated from conversations with gallery owners and AAN sculptors who participated in the 2018 inaugural exhibition in Hadwen’s garden. Support of that installation gave us confidence for an expanded exhibit in 2019. We were thrilled when Mr. Johnson accepted our invitation. This is the first time his life sized pieces are on display for the public to enjoy,” states James Russell, Gosnell Executive Director.

Guest curator Paula Stoeke of The Seward Johnson Atelier selected the pieces from three of Johnson’s series: Beyond the Frame, Celebrating the Familiar, and Icons Revisited. Seward Johnson is frequently noted in the media as “America’s most popular sculptor.” This month Johnson was honored as recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award in sculpture by the International Sculpture Center at a gala in New York City.
The Art of Seward Johnson will be on display starting on April 24. For more information on the exhibit and artist Seward Johnson, please visitwww.nha.org or call (508) 228-1894.

The NHA’s mission is to preserve and interpret the history of Nantucket through its programs, collections, and properties, in order to promote the island’s significance and foster an appreciation of it among all audiences.

The Seward Johnson Atelier, Inc., was incorporated to promote the appreciation of, and education about, sculpture and public art in general, primarily through the creation, maintenance, sales and public placement of Seward Johnson’s artwork.