Broken Crowd “The President’s Audience”

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.