Though often included among the luminaries of 20th century pop artists in America, Jasper Johns’ work was also counted amongst the Neo-Dadaist and abstract expressionism movements. Johns’ work utilized imagery and figures found in popular culture, however, it was their composition using unlikely materials and their juxtaposition against other what make transcend the pop aesthetic. One of his seminal pieces, Flag, which was inspired by a dream he had in the mid 1950’s following his service in the Korean War, would inspire a series of pieces based on the American flag, and would become one his flagship works.
Throughout his career, Johns held several records for ‘most expensive artworks by living artists’ at the most reputable auction houses in the world. He has been honored with the National Medal of Arts in 1990 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011, among other prestigious awards.
