
Ray Johnson
Ray Johnson (1927-1995) was an American artist. Known primarily as a collagist and correspondence artist, he was a seminal figure in the history of Neo-Dada and early Pop art and was described as "New York's most famous unknown artist.” Johnson also staged and participated in early performance art events as the founder of a far-ranging mail art network – the New York Correspondence School – which picked up momentum in the 1960s and is still active today. He is occasionally associated with members of the Fluxus movement but was never a member. He lived in New York City from 1949 to 1968, when he moved to a small town in Long Island and remained there until his suicide.
Ray Johnson, Birth Announcement for the Wilson Twins, 1962, offset lithograph on paper. Flyer announcing the birth of twin girls to Johnson’s longtime friend, William S. Wilson. From an unnumbered, privately circulated edition of 500, 11 3/4 x 8 1/4 inches
Ray Johnson, Untitled [Wanda Gag], c. 1967, graphite on paper, 5 1/2 x 3 1/4 inches
Ray Johnson, Untitled [Dear Oyvind], 1971, ink, rubber stamp, and collage on printed paper, 6 3/4 x 4 3/4 inches
Ray Johnson, Untitled [Paul Gardner], c. 1970s, ink, rubber stamp, and collage on paper, 4 x 6 inches
Ray Johnson, Untitled [Collage by Ray Johnson], 1972, collage, rubber stamp, and ink on paper. Sent by Johnson to Sacramento-based artist, Phil Weidman, 3 x 5 inches
Ray Johnson, Untitled [SLUM RABBIT], 1966, offset lithograph and ink on paper; drawing on Willard Gallery announcement; folded, as issued, 8 1/2 x 11 inches
Ray Johnson, Untitled [The Diaries of Ray Johnson], n.d., Xerox on paper, undated announcement; folded, as issued, 8 1/4 x 10 3/4 inches
Ray Johnson, The Paper Snake, 1965. First edition of notable artist book, published by Something Else Press. Paper boards with offset lithograph dust jacket, sewn bound. Unpaginated, from unnumbered edition of 1840, 8 1/4 x 11 3/4 inches
Ray Johnson: Collage by Bill Maudlin, postcard for the Image Bank Postcard Show, 1977, offset printed, 6 x 3 3/4 inches
Ray Johnson, Untitled [Ray Johnson Portraits], 1977, Xerox on paper, announcement for exhibition at Old Cow Art Gallery, Old Westbury; text verso, 5 x 3 3/4 inches
Ray Johnson / John Willenbecher. Published by William S. Wilson (In Between Books Press), 1977. 8 1/2 x 10 3/4 inches
Ray Johnson, Untitled [Mirror Writing], 1979, screenprint on paper. Postcard invitation to NY Correspondence School Meeting at Artists Space, NY, 4 1/4 x 6 inches