Press release

Sculptor J. Seward Johnson’s ICONS exhibit premieres at the Custom House Museum

Renowned Key West sculptor J. Seward Johnson’s newest exhibit, “ICONS,” held its premiere opening at the Key West Art and Historical Society’s Custom House Museum Jan. 19, with the gala opening from 8 – 10 p.m. and sculptor Seward Johnson was in attendance.
Johnson’s “Beyond the Frame” recently ended its long stay at the Custom House and proved to be one of the museum’s most popular exhibits, bringing in locals and visitors.
Like “Beyond the Frame,” Johnson “ICONS” allows visitors to the museum to interact with his life-size sculptures.
Johnson’s ‘ICONS’ exhibit captures some of America’s iconic moments in history, art and the movies in his usual life-sized detailed elegance.
There is one exception to the life-size sculptures. Outside the Custom House Johnson’s 25-foot tall “God Bless America,” his tribute to artist Grant Wood’s “American Gothic,” is gracing the museum’s entrance. The stoic couple stares down on Clinton Square and vicinity, inviting locals and visitors alike to come and experience a unique journey into America through Johnson’s interactive art.
At the Custom House’s new sculpture garden in the back of the historic building, Johnson’s “Daydream,” inspired by Henri Matisse’s “The Dance,” is now displayed.
Inside the museum visitors are treated to Johnson’s exhibit featuring iconic sculptures such as “Forever Marilyn,” inspired by the famous photograph taken by Bernard of Hollywood showing the movie star’s skirt blowing up over her knees as she stands on a steam vent; “Unconditional Surrender,” was inspired from the photo taken in Times Square, NYC, on VJ Day, of the sailor kissing an unsuspecting young nurse; “Confrontational Vulnerability,” is Johnson’s tribute to Édouard Manet’s nude Olympia.
“We know from the many visitors to our “Beyond the Frame” exhibit, that visitors enjoy the opportunity to interact with the sculptures,” said Key West Art and Historical Society CEO Claudia Pennington. “The new “ICONS” exhibit continues that opportunity and we fully expect it to be as popular with locals and visitors.”
“I want to honor the fact that these images have stayed with us and traveled through time. But I think it is a valuable creative project to investigate how we see these ICONS now – from the distance of history passing,” Johnson said. “Each work in the ICONS series will have a transformation both in scale and in the impact of the third-dimension, the content will be altered as well through my additions to the scene.”

If you are a member of the media and would like to receive more information and/or pictures, please contact: communications@kwahs.org