by As we drove into Carmel, Indiana, in search of the Museum of Miniature Houses, we said, “Hey, is that Seward Johnson sculpture?” Then we saw another, and another, and realized we had a bonus adventure on our hands.
We’d previously visited Grounds for Sculpture in New Jersey (which primarily features Johnson’s works) and done a walking tour of a temporary installation of his works in Simsbury, Connecticut, so we’re familiar with his “look.” The style is very distinct, and I’m still on the fence if it’s good art or kitschy, but know I like it regardless.
It turns out that Carmel is home to the largest collection of J. Seward Johnson sculptures outside of New Jersey! The city currently has 23 sculptures installed, most from Johnson’s Celebrating the Familiar collection, which depict realistic scenes from 1970s daily life. The city spent $2.4 million on the pieces, beginning in 2005, with the last one installed in 2024.
The cover photo is First Ride.
