Evelyn Johns

2025 Visual Arts Scholarship Recipient

Evelyn, an artist from Potomac, Maryland, has used art as a storytelling tool throughout her life. Her large-scale paintings often depict post-apocalyptic worlds, shaped by the looming presence of climate change. Rather than focusing on destruction, Evelyn explores human relationships and nature in these imagined futures, frequently using children as symbols of new beginnings. Through this lens, she urges viewers to consider the legacy they leave for the next generation.

In contrast to her large narrative works, Evelyn’s “Lost Friends” series is more intimate, inspired by two abandoned stuffed animals she discovered. By transforming them into subjects of traditional portraits and still lifes, she crafts new stories that honor her own childhood imagination. These pieces serve as a tribute to her early creative world and reflect a deep emotional connection to storytelling through art.

Evelyn’s artistic journey has included years of study, including work at Glen Echo Park and participation in Brown’s Pre-College Drawing Intensive. This summer, with support from the Anthony Quinn Foundation, she will attend Pratt Institute’s PreCollege Painting & Drawing program. She looks forward to being challenged by new mediums and learning alongside peers who share her passion and dedication to a future in art.