Anna Johnson

Anna Johnson is a studio artist, metalsmith, and educator based in Bakersville, North Carolina. She is currently a three-year resident artist at Penland School of Craft (2025–2028). Rooted in metalsmithing and jewelry design, her practice explores the intricate relationships within the natural world and our place within it. Drawing from found botanicals and animal remains, Johnson transforms organic forms into cast and fabricated works that blur the boundaries between adornment and sculpture.
Her work examines ideas of value, preservation, and interconnectedness—inviting reflection on humanity’s complex relationship with nature. Johnson’s work has been exhibited internationally, featured in numerous publications including American Craft Magazine, Metalsmith Magazine, and CAST: Art and Objects, and is part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York. She has taught workshops across the country, including at Penland School of Craft, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, and Haywood Community College. Her work is represented by Mora Jewelry (Asheville, NC), Hecho a Mano (Santa Fe, NM), Woodlands Gallery (Hendersonville, NC), Metal Museum (Memphis, TN), Penland Gallery (Bakersville, NC), Galeria Alice Floriano (Brazil), and Duane Reed Gallery (St. Louis, MO).