Maynard Johnny Jr. was born (1973) in Campbell River, British Columbia, and has been creating art since he was seventeen years old. While he considers himself self-taught, he acknowledges that he has drawn inspiration from many Northwest Coast artists such as Art Thompson, Robert Davidson, Susan Point, and Mark Henderson. In 2013, Johnny collaborated with students at the University of Victoria on an important project titled Surviving Truth. The carved piece was a response to how First Nations children were affected by Canadian residential schools. In addition to his work as an educator, Johnny has received numerous awards for his graphic design work. He is internationally recognized for experimentation with bold, unusual colors and design choices across different mediums.
