Johnnie Mizell

Bio

Sculptor Johnnie L. Mizell was born on August 15, 1950. He received his BFA and MFA from East Carolina University. Early in his career he was a visiting artist for the NC Arts Council, Nags Head, NC, and created the “Collaborative Installations with the Community” on Jocky's Ridge.

Johnnie was the assistant in charge of installations for Beverly Pepper in Todi, Italy and USA as well as the assistant to Arnaldo Pomodora in Italy. He was an assistant in University of Georgia Program in Cortona, Italy for several summers.

From 1980 until his death in 2011, Johnnie was an assistant in the Installation Department at The National Gallery Of Art in Washington, DC. He traveled nationally and internationally installing major works on loan from the National Gallery of Art. He participated in the installation of art citywide for over 20 years. Johnnie exhibited regionally, nationally, and internationally.

Johnnie’s cast sculpture was seemingly spontaneous, with linear elements of various scales and more weighted, massive elements. This created a tension and balance in Johnnie's sculpture that reflected his love of nature and its spontaneous power.   His "Red Lines in the Sky" sculpture were suspended (with invisible mono-filament and/or stainless steel cable) between public buildings with and/or without permits from authorities. These red lines seemed to appear from nowhere, and marked a location in the sky. They were delightful, mysterious aesthetic pauses for all to enjoy.