Traveling circuses routinely used brightly painted ones to lure paying customers to their quirky sideshows of freaks and curiosities in the early 1800s. The art of creating these tempting come-ons via painted posters was an art form perfected by the likes of Chicago artist Fred G. Johnson. Avery The Master Hypnotist by Fred G. Johnson […]
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Fred G. Johnson was a famous circus sideshow banner artist from Chicago. His paintings were used to advertise sideshows throughout the United States over much of the 20th century. Today his banners are highly collectible. The Mermaid by Fred G. Johnson Ironically, to our knowledge, no pictures of the artist, who died in 1990,
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Fred G. Johnson was known as the ‘Picasso of Circus Art.’ His works are never found ‘flat’ as the were always folded or rolled as the shows came and left large and small municipalities. Alive By Fred G. Johnson You can see more of Mr. Johnson’s work here: http://www.pinterest.com/laquitajean/fred-g-johnson-banner-painter/
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Fred G. Johnson’s resume included the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey and the Clyde Beatty Circuses (Circii?). He could paint as many as four in a day, and has hundreds of his works in museums, private collections, and the occasional forgotten sack in basements or attics. Baffling Barnes by Fred G.
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Artist Fred G. Johnson worked for the O. Henry Tent and Awning Company in Chicago for 40 years (1934 – 1974), although he started at the United States Tent and Awning company early in his career. Although hundreds, possibly thousands of his paintings were made, only a relative handful are still in existence. Electra by
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Fred G. Johnson often didn’t sign his work, and it takes an expert to tell if it an original FGJ. Often risque, and occasionally frightening, his works were simple, but clearly sold the sideshow (or freak show) to the potential audience. Working in a studio, he seldom saw the sideshow he was painting. Bummer By
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