Denise Willey Johnson

Denise is a local artist who specializes in figurative sculpture and wheel-thrown pottery. For the past 14 years, she has taught wheel throwing, sculpture and general art classes to students, aged three to 83, at Minnesota public schools and art centers. For the last eight years, Denise has been an instructor for Edina Art Center’s Art Academy, a program for focused youth.

Denise makes “everyday” pots, smoke-fired vessels and colorful raku sculptures that are prized for their craftsmanship and individuality. Her figurative sculptures of birds and humans use physical form to explore inner character and emotion. She enjoys helping students develop their technical skills and achieve their artistic goals.

Denise currently teaches Tuesday’s Art Academy, for grades six through 10, at Edina Art Center.