Sybil Shearer Collection of Ray Johnson

In 1956, Sybil Shearer (1912-2005) received from Ray Johnson (1927-1995) 32 of his “moticos” through the mail. These early collages and collage fragments remained in Shearer’s collection throughout her life. Originally created to be used in performances, the collages sent to Shearer represent some of the earliest cut paper compositions of Johnson’s career. This collection includes 47 total objects including the moticos, 8 broadsides, 5 envelopes and 2 letters. View finding aid.View selected images from this collection. See also: William S. Wilson Collection of Ray Johnson Collection access:Collections may be accessed in the Franke Reading Room of the Research Center at The Art Institute of Chicago, by appointment only. For further information, consult the FAQ. Finding aids by subjectBrowse all finding aidsBrowse images and mediaOral histories Contact the Ryerson and Burnham Art and Architecture Archives:archives@artic.edu