Johnson, William H.

Born on March 18, 1901, in Florence, South Carolina, William Henry Johnson attended the all-black Wilson School, where his teacher Louise Fordham Holmes introduced him to sketching. He later moved to New York City, working various jobs to afford classes at the National Academy of Design. Johnson’s artistic journey included studying under renowned painters like Charles Webster Hawthorne. Despite personal challenges, his legacy lives on through his acquired works showcased at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.