PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (March 21, 2025) – For Ann Johnson ’91, art has always been more than just a creative outlet—it’s a way of life. A longtime art professor at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), Johnson describes art as “freedom.”
“There is a freedom—a freedom of expression—and a power for others to view and think differently,” she said.
Johnson, who has been teaching at PVAMU for over three decades, since 1995, currently leads courses in African American art history, book arts, and craft design. This semester, she’s venturing into new territory by incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into her classroom.
“It’s been an adventure,” she said with a laugh, acknowledging the ever-evolving nature of art and technology.
Freedom Dreamin’
Her own journey as an artist began early. “I’ve always been creatively inclined,” Johnson said. “My mother was very artistic—she painted, designed hats, and had a beautiful garden.” One of her earliest art projects was a Santa Claus cup she colored in kindergarten, a piece her mother still keeps in a curio cabinet.
Johnson, a proud PVAMU alumna, earned her bachelor’s degree in home economics with a minor in art in 1991. She went on to earn a Master of Arts in Humanities from the University of Houston and a Master of Fine Arts from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
As an interdisciplinary artist, she works in mixed media, with a primary focus on experimental printmaking. “I love pushing the boundaries of printmaking—printing on cotton, leaves, even basketball hoops,” she explained. “I like to create conceptual pieces that make the viewer think.”
Egyptian Collar
Her work has been showcased in exhibitions across the country, from the Skylight Gallery in Brooklyn to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Her work was also featured in The New York Times and showcased in a collaborative exhibition at the California African American Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate. One of her most significant milestones was becoming the first PVAMU graduate to have a solo exhibition in San Francisco at the Museum of the African Diaspora.
Johnson’s passion for teaching is just as strong as her love for art. “I truly enjoy teaching,” she said. “There’s a spiritual joy in knowing I’ve sparked creativity in a student or introduced them to a part of history they’ve never explored.”
She sees the classroom as a space for collaboration, where both she and her students learn from each other. She often incorporates music and pop culture into her lectures to make art history more relatable.
PVAMU has always been home for Johnson, and her impact—both as an artist and an educator—continues to inspire generations of students walking through her classroom doors.
-PVAMU-