Visions of the Johnson Publishing Company, an American Icon
Foreword by Deborah Willis. Text by Aaron Bryant, Cheryl Finley, Brenna Greer, John Ott, E. James West, Carla Williams.
Residual textures, patterns and structures of the abandoned Ebony and Jet offices represent both the spirit of a Black publishing empire and the sense of its loss
Home to the creative teams behind the influential magazines Ebony and Jet, the offices of the Johnson Publishing Company at 820 South Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago were inspiring creations in their own right. Each floor of the 11-story building flaunted distinct color and pattern combinations, and this bold design telegraphed Johnson's position at the forefront of Black American business and culture. After the company sold the building in 2010 and relocated in 2012, Barbara Karant spent five years photographing the office’s interiors, which remained largely unchanged since their original design in the 1970s. Approximately 150 color photographs are paired with images of the original interiors along with other archival material. Texts include an essay on the legacy of the Johnson Publishing Company and an oral history of the company as related by former employees.
STATUS: Forthcoming | 9/22/2026
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Barbara Karant: 820 Ebony/Jet Visions of the Johnson Publishing Company, an American Icon
Published by MW Editions. Foreword by Deborah Willis. Text by Aaron Bryant, Cheryl Finley, Brenna Greer, John Ott, E. James West, Carla Williams.
Residual textures, patterns and structures of the abandoned Ebony and Jet offices represent both the spirit of a Black publishing empire and the sense of its loss
Home to the creative teams behind the influential magazines Ebony and Jet, the offices of the Johnson Publishing Company at 820 South Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago were inspiring creations in their own right. Each floor of the 11-story building flaunted distinct color and pattern combinations, and this bold design telegraphed Johnson's position at the forefront of Black American business and culture. After the company sold the building in 2010 and relocated in 2012, Barbara Karant spent five years photographing the office’s interiors, which remained largely unchanged since their original design in the 1970s. Approximately 150 color photographs are paired with images of the original interiors along with other archival material. Texts include an essay on the legacy of the Johnson Publishing Company and an oral history of the company as related by former employees.
