John Kearney

John Kearney was an American sculptor best known for his highly inventive and witty use of recycled automobile bumpers as his primary sculptural medium. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Kearney studied at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan, one of the premier design and fine arts institutions in the United States, before going on to co-found the Contemporary Art Workshop in Chicago in 1949, an organization dedicated to providing affordable studio space and exhibition opportunities for emerging artists. This institution became a cornerstone of the Chicago arts community and cemented Kearney's legacy as both an artist and a cultural organizer.