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early 1958

First solo show at the Leo Castelli Gallery

Johns's first solo show at the Leo Castelli Gallery, in early 1958, was well received: all but two of the eighteen works on view sold. Alfred H. Barr Jr., founding director of the Museum of Modern Art, bought three paintings, the first works by Johns to enter a museum collection; the trustees feared attacks by patriotic groups over Flag, so Barr arranged for the architect Philip Johnson to buy it and donate it to the museum in 1973.

1960

Takes up lithography at Tatyana Grosman's ULAE

In 1960 Tatyana Grosman, founder of Universal Limited Art Editions, invited Johns to her printmaking studio on Long Island. Beginning with lithographs of his familiar motifs, such as Target (1960), he went on to publish over 180 editions with ULAE in a variety of techniques.

1961

Parts from Rauschenberg

In 1961 Johns's romantic relationship and close collaboration with Robert Rauschenberg, begun in 1953, came to an end; Rauschenberg had been a profound artistic influence on him.

spring 1963

Co-founds an arts foundation with John Cage

In spring 1963 Johns and John Cage co-founded the Foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts, now the Foundation for Contemporary Arts, to raise funds in the performance field.

28. června 1964 – 6. října 1964

Exhibition: Documenta III

1965

Affair with Susan Sontag

Johns has primarily had relationships with men, but in 1965 he had an affair with the writer Susan Sontag.