DAYTON, OH.- The Dayton Art Institute presents Fighters for Freedom: William H. Johnson Picturing Justice, on view June 27–September 13, 2026. Organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM), this major exhibition presents paintings from Johnson’s celebrated Fighters for Freedom series for the first time since 1946.
Artdaily Recommended · Paid Link
William H. Johnson: An American Modern
A major volume on the pioneering American modernist
Explore William H. Johnson’s vibrant paintings and distinctive vision through a richly illustrated study of one of America’s most original modern artists.
See it on Amazon → As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
William H. Johnson (1901–1970) painted the Fighters for Freedom series in the mid-1940s as a tribute to African American activists, scientists, educators, performers and international leaders working to advance freedom, justice and peace. It was the artist’s final major body of work and remains a powerful visual celebration of social justice in American art.
“Johnson created powerful, vibrant paintings that were inspired by influential people from American history, including many who were making remarkable contributions to society in his own time,” said Jerry N. Smith, Head Curator & Curatorial Affairs Director at the DAI. “The exhibition highlights both Johnson’s bold and colorful artistic vision and the legacies of the leaders, innovators and freedom fighters he depicted, demonstrating how their stories continue to inspire new generations. We are fortunate to have such a great exhibition here in Dayton.”
The exhibition includes portraits of well-known historical figures such as Marian Anderson, George Washington Carver, Mohandas Gandhi and Harriet Tubman, alongside individuals whose achievements have become less widely recognized over time, including Nannie Helen Burroughs and composer William Grant Still. Johnson celebrated their accomplishments while acknowledging the realities of racism, oppression and violence they faced and overcame.
Through colorful, narrative-rich compositions, Johnson incorporated flags, buildings and small vignettes into each portrait to give important insight into his subjects’ stories. Together, the paintings suggest that the pursuit of freedom is an ongoing and interconnected struggle, marked by both triumph and tragedy.
Born in Florence, South Carolina, in 1901, Johnson left the Jim Crow South as a teenager and moved to New York City, where he studied at the National Academy of Design. By the time he finished five years later, he had won most of the prizes the academy offered. He soon left for Europe, where he developed a distinctive modernist style, painting landscapes and light-struck villages. During his time in Europe, Johnson lived in France, Denmark and Norway, and married Danish weaver Holcha Krake. Returning to New York in 1938, the artist shifted his artistic focus to the experiences of African Americans, creating works that explored Black life, culture and history.
Johnson’s personal life was marked by hardship. Following the death of his wife in 1944, his physical and mental health declined. In 1947, he was hospitalized and confined to Central Islip State Hospital in New York, where he remained until his death in 1970. Today, he is recognized as one of the most significant African American artists of the twentieth century.
The exhibition draws from the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s collection of more than 1,300 works by Johnson, gifted to the museum by the Harmon Foundation in 1967. Through decades of conservation, research and exhibition efforts, the Smithsonian has played a central role in preserving Johnson’s legacy and establishing his place in American art history.
“This exhibition reminds us that individual achievement and a commitment to social justice are central to the American story,” said Smith. “Johnson’s paintings honor those who challenged injustice and helped create lasting change.”
In addition, Fighters for Freedom will be complemented with an installation of works by African
American artists drawn from the museum’s collection. Artists represented include Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, Alison Saar, Robert S. Duncanson, Curtis Barnes, Sr., Willis “Bing” Davis, Bessie Nickens and several others.
