Jasper Johns - An Artist of the Modern Era

American contemporary artist, Jasper Johns, Jr., was born on May 15, 1930, in Augusta, Georgia. He grew up in Allendale, South Carolina. A photographer and printmaker by profession, Jasper Johns is influenced by Abstract Expressionism, Neo-Dadaism, and Pop Art. Even as a child, the painter was clear in his mind that he would grow up to be an artist.

The artist studied at the University of South Carolina from 1947-48. Jasper then moved to New York in 1948, where he attended the Parsons School of Design. Here, he met the likes of Robert Rauschenberg, an artist, Merce Cunningham, a choreographer, and John Cage, a composer, with whom Jasper had very fruitful and satisfying relationships. During the Korean War, the artist had a brief stint in the army too, and he was based in Sendai, Japan, between 1952 and 1953. Jasper Johns' most famous artistic work was titled, "Flag (1954-1955)." He had achieved fame and recognition in his field because he was not scared of experimenting with different art movements, such as Pop, Minimal, and Conceptual. In fact, his works were more influenced by Pop Art, as they were usually themed around the images of the icons of popular cultures and activities. After Flag, Jasper worked on innumerable prints and the drawings of flags. These included the oil on paper Flag (1957) and the Three Flags (1958).

Unlike other artists who believed in spontaneity, Johns' work was done with precision and a superb control, where he exactly knew what he wanted his work to look like. The artist relied on painting popular icons and images, which had left an indelible impression on his mind. In 1958, Jasper Johns had his first solo exhibition at the Leo Castelli Gallery, New York. He won the International Prize for his picture "The Grey Number." In 1960, he was drawn to working with lithographs. His first large "Map" picture was done in 1961. Jasper's retrospective exhibitions include the one given at the Jewish Museum in 1964 and at the Pasadena Art Museum in 1965.

In 1967, Jasper Johns painted "Harlem Light." He also did an illustration of Frank O'Hara's book "In Memory of my Feeling." He then collaborated with John Cage and Merce Cunningham, as an artistic advisor of their dance company until 1972. Other famous pieces of work by Jasper Johns include "False Start (1959)," "Study for Skin (1962)," "Figure Five (1963-64)," and "Seasons (1986)." In 1988, Jasper Johns won the Grand Prix at the Venice Biennale. In 2008, a retrospective exhibition of his works, spanning over a period of ten years was held at the Matthew Marks Gallery. Johns' painting "False Start" was sold at a whopping price of $80 million, making it the most expensive painting by an artist who is still alive. Jasper lives in Sharon, Connecticut at present.

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