After Chicago-area choreographer Sybil Shearer died in 2005, a box with unexpected contents was discovered tucked away in her attic.
If the late performer, artist, and conceptualist Ray Johnson (1927-95) was known to you primarily as a chief architect of Pop art, this show will come as a revelation—and a relief.
The artist you meet in a small, revelatory show is quite different from the one known for mail art and his later gritty samplings of popular culture.
Ray Johnson’s exquisite and crucial body of work – and the artistic network he was able to forge around that body and the sensibility behind it – turns out to be one of the driving forces in art (and not just Western art) of the later 20th century.
A conversation with Frances Beatty, Managing Director of the Ray Johnson Estate. Known for his masterful use of collage, Johnson was a key figure in the ‘50s Pop Art scene, as well as a pioneer in the areas of conceptualism, performance art and mail art. Beatty takes time to discuss Ray Johnson’s colorful life and the impact that he had on the art icons and everyday people in his social network.
New York museum invites online audience to make and own non-fungible tokens communally on the blockchain in 15-person groups...
The discovery of a group of early collages tells a new story about Johnson’s ties to dance and the dance world.
In the last three years of his life, the elusive New York artist Ray Johnson picked up what he called a “new career as a photographer.” His late pictures were a final message, prank, secret, or gift.
CRITIC’S PICK: Ray Johnson’s Camera Was Disposable. The Photos Are Unforgettable.
The Pop artist spent his final years taking pictures and kept them a secret. Dozens are on view in a revelatory show at the Morgan Library & Museum.
PLEASE SEND TO REAL LIFE: Ray Johnson Photographs
The collagist Ray Johnson flippantly referred to his “new career as a photographer,” having not pursued the genre before, spending decades masterfully cutting up flat images—some taken by others of him, others of pop culture effigies he surgically extracted.
"... in the last three years of his life, unbeknownst to most of his friends, he became a photographer."
Why Are We Still Talking About Black Mountain College?
In 1933, a handful of renegade teachers opened a school in rural North Carolina that would go on to shape American art and art education for decades to come.
Ray Johnson, Morgan Library review — banal, poetic, astonishing photographs by a man of mystery.
Three thousand pictures, discovered long after his death, shed light on the artist’s intriguing strangeness...
In the last years of his life, Ray Johnson gave up the collages he had made until then, a term that he seemed to dislike somehow and which he had replaced with "moticos", an anagram for "osmotic", just as difficult. to decipher like him. So he returned more resolutely to photography. Between '92 and '94 he used 137 disposable cameras with which he created the collection of works that only this day sees the light of day.
Ray Johnson’s Previously Unseen Photography Comes to the Morgan Library & Museum
PLEASE SEND TO REAL LIFE: Ray Johnson Photographs reveals the “career in photography” that occupied the artist in the last three years of his life.
At the end of his life, the elusive American artist used disposable cameras to take some three thousand pictures, now exhibited at the Morgan Library & Museum, in “Please Send to Real Life: Ray Johnson Photographs.”
'Ray Johnson c/o' at Art Institute sums up an artist - with portraits, binders and mail - whose life was his chief artwork...
What's in Our Queue? Mozart and More... Book: 'Ray Johnson c/o'
The catalog to an exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago (up through March 21), this book mirrors the inspiring abundance of Johnson's mind and art. It feels itself like a great work of collage, full of pinging resonance.
“A publication of this milieu is a tall order and this beautifully designed and dynamic book meets the challenge. The intelligent and thoughtful choices of material, type, and general organization weaves together a textural experience for the reader.” —Kimberly Varella
Ray Johnson, the elusive mail-art pioneer whose collages and wordplay created an unorthodox social network, died in 1995, but to me he’s a patron saint of the past lonely year. This catalogue, arriving ahead of a Chicago retrospective, is a sweeping primer on his output—and a creative prompt too.
‘What a Dump’ Delves Into the Irreverent World of Ray Johnson
A new exhibition examines the artist’s mailings and collages — and his persona...
Curated by Jarrett Earnest and organized in collaboration with The Ray Johnson Estate, the captivating presentation offers an amusing array of never-before-exhibited artworks from the 1950s through the 1990s.
Ray Johnson, Pop-Culture Collagist, Master of ‘The Happening’ and the Mysterious World of Zen Emptiness
Johnson was an obsessive artist in many ways—how else could he have produced such a prolific archive—but this exhibition hones in on his celebrity obsessions as well as other interests.
A conversation with exhibition curator Jarrett Earnest on the occasion of Ray Johnson: WHAT A DUMP, currently on view at David Zwirner in New York.
WHAT A DUMP: A Conversation about Ray Johnson and His Exhibition @ David Zwirner
In this exhibition, the curator Jarrett Earnest aims to somewhat reframe the conversation around Johnson—the pranksterish artist known for his mail art and collages—in order to shine a light on him as a queer figure who was in frequent dialogue with other queer artists of the era.
DAVID ZWIRNER EXPLORES ARTIST RAY JOHNSON’S QUEER IDENTITY IN “WHAT A DUMP” CURATOR JARRETT EARNEST PRESENTS A NUANCED PORTRAIT OF THE OBSESSIVE MAIL ART PIONEER
4 Art Gallery Shows to See Right Now: Ray Johnson WHAT A DUMP
NOTHNG OF THE MONTH CLUB - The last time I visited Off Paradise in Chinatown, right across from the former office office, it was a dreary autumn day. The gallery's current exhibit, NOTHNG OF THE MONTH CLUB (with the “I” purposely left out), very much reflects springtime with its playful tone and humor...
RAY JOHNSON | 'WHAT A DUMP' AT DAVID ZWIRNER
Ray Johnson Spent the Final Years of His Life Developing an Enigmatic Photography Project. It'll Go on View Next Summer...
"An Elusive Artist's Trove of Never-Before-Seen Images" In the years leading up to his death, Ray Johnson took up photography. Now, this body of work is shedding light on his final days...
A Conversation with Frances Beatty & Jason Pickleman on Ray Johnson and Mail Art in 2020 via Instagram Live.
Issue #25, with special edition Ray Johnson Bunnyhead spine and never before published photographs by Frances Beatty and Ray Johnson.
A review of the group exhibition "Strategic Vandalism: The Legacy of Asger Jorn’s Modification Paintings" at Petzel Gallery
Tracing the Roots of Photo Sharing, From Mail Art to Instagram
A review of the group exhibition "Strategic Vandalism: The Legacy of Asger Jorn's Modification Paintings" at Petzel Gallery
A Portrait of Ray Johnson in His Own Words reviews Julie J. Thomson's new book "That Was the Answer: Interviews with Ray Johnson"
Two of a Kind: Ray Johnson & Marcel Duchamp reviews Kate Dempsey Martineau's new book "Ray Johnson: Selective Inheritance"
Ray Johnson and Andy Warhol: The Art World's Odd Couple
The Tactile Temptation of Ray Johnson's Assemblages
Duncan Hannah interviewed by Jim Walrod on his career as an artist in a rapidly changing New York
Forms of Address: Ray Johnson’s Bob Boxes...
‘Ray Johnson: The Bob Boxes’ spills forth at CCS : the sublime art of a known unknown...
'5 Artists Who Broke Out in 2015' describes Johnson's rising fame in 2015...
“Leap Before You Look: Black Mountain College 1933-1957”...
'Nothing in Print' Widely lauded as the father of the mail art, Ray Johnson’s deadpan irreverence is celebrated in a January, 1968 letter to Grace Glueck of The New York Times...
THE BIENNIAL BONANZA ‘PERFORMA 15’ BRINGS US LIVE PERFORMANCES CREATED BY VISUAL ARTISTS...
'The Curtain Rises in Cyberspace', describes the email performance piece created by Brian Fuata and Susan Gibb for the Performa 15 biennial and Ray Johnson as inspiration.
'A Mail-Art Performance and Other Treats at Performa 15' describes the performance work of Brian Fuata and how he took inspiration from ay Johnson's mail-art practice.
'Please Add To and Return To: Mail Art Homage to Ray Johnson' at Printed Matter, presents images and a brief description of the exhibition that is part of the Performa NYC's biennial.
Meet the Powerhouse Art Dealer Protecting the ‘Most Famous Unknown Artist’s’ Legacy... Feigen's Frances Beatty on her career, and her drive to keep Ray Johnson's work alive
"Recalling Ray Johnson, A Pioneer of Mail Art" by Ken Johnson for The New York Times, August 27 2015. Review of Please Return To.
"I Is an Other: The Mail Art of Ray Johnson," long-form review of Please Return To by Tim Keane for Hyperallergic, August 22 2015.
A special issue of Black Mountain College Studies dedicated to Ray Johnson's The Paper Snake, following the exhibition Something Else Entirely at the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center. It should be noted that Ray Johnson and Dick Higgins: Reciprocities, is the last written publication by William S. "Bill" Wilson, the acclaimed writer and Ray Johnson's unwavering champion.
Andrew Russeth reviews Ray Johnson's Art World for ARTnews, April 2015.
Robert Pincus-Witten reviews Ray Johnson's Art World in the February 2015 issue of Artforum.
"Meet Ray Johnson, the Greatest Artist You've Never Heard Of" by Rachel Tashjian on VanityFair.com. January 21 2015.
"When Mystery Keeps Works New: Jasper Johns and Ray Johnson on the Upper East Side" by Roberta Smith for The New York Times. January 15, 2015.
"Always on His Own Terms: Ray Johnson Defies Categories 20 Years After His Death" by Randy Kennedy for The New York Times. January 8 2015.
"(Untitled): The Life and Work of the Artist Ray Johnson." The Believer, Summer 2015.
"A Selection of Ray Johnson Ephemera," Modern Painters, January 2015, 48-59.
An interview with Brendan Dugan and Jay Gorney about their show Ray Johnson at Karma. October 16, 2014.
NY Times Review: Life Revealed in Letters and Doodles: ‘Not Nothing’ Tries to Capture the Artist Ray Johnson, August 10, 2014 by Holland Cotter
"Please Forward Contents," The Paris Review "The Daily," August 27, 2014
Ed Ruscha, John Baldessari, Lynda Benglis and Others Debut Homages to Artist Ray Johnson on Vogue.com. By Mark Guiducci.
Not Nothing and The Paper Snake reviewed by Marjorie Perloff in the Times Literary Supplement, "You've Got Mail," July 30, 2014.
Elizabeth Zuba interviews Clive Phillpot in BOMB magazine, Human collage, mail art, and punning with the nothing master, July 31, 2014
Frances Richard reviews The Paper Snake and Not Nothing: Selected Writings by Ray Johnson, 1954-1995 for Hyperallergic, July 26 2014.
Gillian Pistell, "Ray Johnson: Artist as Archivist." Interventions Journal July 3, 2014
The Lively Soul of a Decaying City: Detroit Artists at Marianne Boesky and Marlborough Chelsea Galleries NY Times article by Randy Kennedy, June 25, 2014
Albert Mobilio reviews the publications The Paper Snake and Not Nothing: Selected Writings by Ray Johnson, 1954-1995. Summer 2014
"Ray Johnson: The Zen Master of the Social Network." Utne Reader, Winter 2014.
"The Art of Graphic Design: Lustig, Albers, Johnson, and the 1945 Summer Session," Journal of Black Mountain College Studies 6 (Summer 2014).
Thibaut de Ruyter reviews Ray Johnson: Silhouettes at Berlin's Galerie Aurel Scheibler for Frieze. Spring 2012.
Holland Cotter reviews the ESOPUS exhibition of Bob Warner-Ray Johnson mail art for The New York Times.
"Weaving Correspondence: Anni Albers and Ray Johnson." Journal of Black Mountain College Studies 1, no.2 (2011).
"To Ray J, George Brecht Knows, George Brecht's Nose: The Development of Ray Johnson's and George Brecht's Participatory and Dialogic Practices." Journal of Black Mountain College Studies 1, no.2 (2011).
"From Art to Experience: The Porous Philosophy of Ray Johnson." Journal of Black Mountain College Studies 1, no.2 (2011).
Review of Ray Johnson…Dali/Warhol, and others, “Main Ray, Ducham, Openhein, Pikabia….” by Karen Rosenberg in The New York Times.
Michael Archer reviews Ray Johnson. Please Add to & Return for Artforum.
Martin Herbert reviews the Raven Row exhibition for Art Monthly.
Simon Grant previews Ray Johnson. Please Add To & Return in Apollo magazine.
Anne Doran reviews the exhibition at Richard L. Feigen & Co. for Time Out New York.
Wilson, William S. "Retrospections on West 23rd Street." New York: Printed Matter, 2006.
Ken Tucker ranks How To Draw A Bunny as one of the best films of 2004.
Tom Isler reviews How to Draw a Bunny for The Southampton Press.
Patricia C. Johnson reviews How to Draw a Bunny for the Houston Chronicle.
Jeff Shannon reviews John Walter's and Andrew Moore's documentary for The Seattle Times.
Ella Taylor reviews John Walter's and Andrew Moore's documentary for LA Weekly.
Phyllis Braff reviews Dear Jackson Pollock, Collages and Objects by Ray Johnson for The New York Times.
Raphael Rubinstein reviews How to Draw a Bunny for Art in America.
Maitland McDonagh reviews How to Draw a Bunny for TV Guide.
Noel Murray reviews How to Draw a Bunny for The Onion A.V. Club.
Frances Richard reviews John Walter's and Andrew Moore's film for Artforum.
Steven Boone reviews John Walter's and Andrew Moore's documentary for Time Out New York.
V.A. Musetto reviews How to Draw a Bunny for the New York Post.
Lawrence Van Gelder reviews How to Draw a Bunny for The New York Times.
Elizabeth Weitzman reviews How to Draw a Bunny for the New York Daily News.
Michael Kimmelman reviews How To Draw A Bunny for The New York Times.
Review of John Walter's and Andrew Moore's documentary in The Art Newspaper.
Glen Helfand reports on How to Draw a Bunny from the 2002 Sundance Film Festival for Artforum.
William S. Wilson. "Ray Johnson and the Number 13." Blastitude 3 (2002).
Brett Martin reviews How To Draw A Bunny for Time Out New York.
Wallach, Amei. "Dear Friends of Ray, and Audiences of One." New York Times, February 28, 1999.
Review of Ray Johnson: Correspondences by Holland Cotter in The New York Times.
“Notes to the World (or Bend, Fold, and Spindle).” Art in America 83 (October 1995): 100-105.
A eulogy for Ray Johnson by David Bourdon in Art in America.
Review of Ray Johnson: A Memorial Exhibition by Roberta Smith in The New York Times.
Held, John Jr. “Bunny Dead: The Mysterious Life and Death of Ray Johnson and the Rise of the New York Correspondence School of Art.” National Stampagraphic 13, no. 3, (Spring 1995):20-25.
David Bourdon, Robert Pincus-Witten, Nam June Paik, Chuck Close, Jill Johnston, and James Rosenquist. “Returned to Sender: Remembering Ray Johnson.” Artforum 33 (April 1995): 70-75, 106, 111-113.
Hurt, Harry III. “A Performance-Art Death.” New York Journal. March 6, 1995.
Harry Hurt III discusses Ray Johnson's death in New York Journal.
Ebony, David. "Ray Johnson, from The Paper Snake to Shelley Duvall," New Observations, "Bookworks,” 106 (May-June 1995)
Trebay, Guy. “Backstroking into Oblivion: The Riddle of Ray Johnson’s Suicide.” Village Voice, January 31, 1995.
Vogel, Carol. “Ray Johnson, 67 Pop Artist Known for His Work in Collage.” New York Times. January 19, 1995.
Bloch, Mark, Chuck Close, Jill Johnston, and Richard L. Feigen. "A Tribute to Ray Johnson." WBAI-FM, 1995.
Phillpot, Clive. "The Mailed Art of Ray Johnson." In Eternal Network: A Mail Art Anthology, edited by Chuck Welch, 24-32. Calgary, Alberta: University of Calgary Press, 1995.
Gerrit Henry reviews Works by Ray Johnson for Art in America, 1984.
Glueck, Grace. "A Witty Master of the Deadpan Spoof," New York Times, February 19, 1984.
Friedman, Ken. "Mail Art History - The Fluxus Factor." Flue 4, no.3/4 (1984): 18-24.
Spodarek, Diane and Randy Delbeke. "Ray Johnson Interview." Detroit Artists Monthly 3 (February 1978): 3-9.
Johnson, Ray. Interview by John Held, Jr. Mid-York Library System, Utica, New York. December 2, 1977.
Plunkett, Edward M., Lawrence Alloway, John Russell, Suzi Gablik, William S. Wilson, Henry Martin, Robert Pincus-Witten, Karen Shaw, Robert Rosenblum, Lucy R. Lippard, Tommy Mew, Toby R. Spiselman. "Send Letters, Postcards, Drawings, and Objects . . . " Art Journal XXXVI (Spring 1977): 233-241.
Campbell, Lawrence. "The Ray Johnson History of the Betty Parsons Gallery." Art News 72 (January 1973): 56-57.
Thomas Albright explores The New York Correspondance School for Rolling Stone.
Artnews calls Ray Johnson's Dollar Bill collages "devilishly good-natured homages to the famed and fabled," 1971.
Constable, Rosalind. “The Mailaway Art of Ray Johnson.” New York Magazine, March 2, 1970.
Rosalind Constable explores Ray Johnson's mail art for New York magazine.
William S. Wilson examines Ray Johnson's work for Arts Magazine.
Andreae, Christopher. “Happy Membership”, Christian Science Monitor, July 14, 1969.
“The New York Correspondence School.” Artforum, 6 (October 1967): 50-55.
Lil Picard discusses Ray Johnson's collage techniques in Arts Magazine.
An Artforum review of Ray Johnson's first exhibition in Chicago at the Richard Feigen Gallery, 1966.
William S. Wilson reviews the New York Correspondance School for Art and Artists.
Grace Glueck reviews the Ray Johnson exhibition at the Willard Gallery for The New York Times, 1965.
Gablik, Suzi. “700 Collages by Ray Johnson.” Location 1 (Summer 1964) edited by Thomas B. Hess and Harold Rosenberg, 55-58.
Harper's Bazaar features Richard Lippold, Morton Feldman, John Cage, and Ray Johnson.