Johnson, Seward

Seward Johnson designed life-size bronze statues of real people, with clothing, posture, facial expressions, and everyday details rendered with great precision. His sculptures depict ordinary people in everyday situations (walkers, couples, workers, or children) and are often so skillfully placed in public spaces that they are initially mistaken for real people. His works tell little stories or capture a moment in life, much like a frozen film scene.

The “Master of the everyday,” as the artist is often called, also created numerous sculptures that recreate famous paintings in three dimensions; he essentially translated works by Monet, Renoir, and Degas from painting to sculpture.

In 1992, Johnson founded Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, New Jersey, one of the largest and finest sculpture parks in the United States. Here, visitors will find around 300 contemporary sculptures, with the artist’s works on focus. His magnificent sculptures can be found in many cities across the US; unfortunately, he is largely unknown in Europe.