Broken Crowd “The President’s Audience”
By Rashid Johnson
About
The artwork
In Broken Crowd “The President’s Audience” , Chicago-born artist Rashid Johnson creates a large-scale mosaic of expressive, abstract faces. Made from broken ceramic tile, the surface is filled with wide-eyed figures whose shifting expressions can suggest anxiety, curiosity, or quiet reflection. The work builds on Johnson’s Broken Men series, which explores emotional life and mental health. Here, fragmented pieces come together to form a unified whole, suggesting both vulnerability and resilience. The piece invites viewers to consider how individual experiences—while deeply personal—can also feel widely shared.
Location: Fruit and Vegetable Garden | Garden Pavilion | Garden Classroom
The artist
Rashid Johnson is a Chicago-born artist whose work spans painting, sculpture, film, and installation. His practice brings together a wide range of materials and references, drawing on personal history, cultural identity, and broader social narratives. Johnson studied at Columbia College Chicago and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Explore More
Garden Gatherings
Every other week in the summer, we transform our garden into a space for music, hands-on gardening activities, and opportunities to connect with neighbors.
Garden Classroom
The Eleanor Roosevelt Fruit and Vegetable Garden and the garden classroom serve as a warm and welcoming environment for people to explore gardening, food, and cooking as a pathway to self and community improvement.
