| American contemporary artist, Jasper Johns, Jr., | | | | Unlike other artists who believed in spontaneity, |
| was born on May 15, 1930, in Augusta, Georgia. | | | | Johns' work was done with precision and a superb |
| He grew up in Allendale, South Carolina. A | | | | control, where he exactly knew what he wanted |
| photographer and printmaker by profession, | | | | his work to look like. The artist relied on painting |
| Jasper Johns is influenced by Abstract | | | | popular icons and images, which had left an |
| Expressionism, Neo-Dadaism, and Pop Art. Even | | | | indelible impression on his mind. In 1958, Jasper |
| as a child, the painter was clear in his mind that he | | | | Johns had his first solo exhibition at the Leo |
| would grow up to be an artist. | | | | Castelli Gallery, New York. He won the |
| The artist studied at the University of South | | | | International Prize for his picture "The Grey |
| Carolina from 1947-48. Jasper then moved to | | | | Number." In 1960, he was drawn to working with |
| New York in 1948, where he attended the | | | | lithographs. His first large "Map" picture was done |
| Parsons School of Design. Here, he met the likes | | | | in 1961. Jasper's retrospective exhibitions include |
| of Robert Rauschenberg, an artist, Merce | | | | the one given at the Jewish Museum in 1964 and |
| Cunningham, a choreographer, and John Cage, a | | | | at the Pasadena Art Museum in 1965. |
| composer, with whom Jasper had very fruitful | | | | In 1967, Jasper Johns painted "Harlem Light." He |
| and satisfying relationships. During the Korean | | | | also did an illustration of Frank O'Hara's book "In |
| War, the artist had a brief stint in the army too, | | | | Memory of my Feeling." He then collaborated with |
| and he was based in Sendai, Japan, between 1952 | | | | John Cage and Merce Cunningham, as an artistic |
| and 1953. Jasper Johns' most famous artistic work | | | | advisor of their dance company until 1972. Other |
| was titled, "Flag (1954-1955)." He had achieved | | | | famous pieces of work by Jasper Johns include |
| fame and recognition in his field because he was | | | | "False Start (1959)," "Study for Skin (1962)," |
| not scared of experimenting with different art | | | | "Figure Five (1963-64)," and "Seasons (1986)." In |
| movements, such as Pop, Minimal, and Conceptual. | | | | 1988, Jasper Johns won the Grand Prix at the |
| In fact, his works were more influenced by Pop | | | | Venice Biennale. In 2008, a retrospective exhibition |
| Art, as they were usually themed around the | | | | of his works, spanning over a period of ten years |
| images of the icons of popular cultures and | | | | was held at the Matthew Marks Gallery. Johns' |
| activities. After Flag, Jasper worked on | | | | painting "False Start" was sold at a whopping price |
| innumerable prints and the drawings of flags. | | | | of $80 million, making it the most expensive |
| These included the oil on paper Flag (1957) and | | | | painting by an artist who is still alive. Jasper lives in |
| the Three Flags (1958). | | | | Sharon, Connecticut at present. |