By E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center—
MUNCIE, IN—While local artist Ann Johnson is well known in art circles across the United States and abroad, many people do not fully understand the breadth of her experiences and accomplishments. She has led an extraordinary life, personally and professionally, marked by the kind of journey most people could only imagine. Often described as one of Muncie, Indiana’s, best-kept secrets, she has earned a place among the city’s most notable figures.
She has chronicled that journey in her new book, Finding Fogg. It is more than a memoir—it’s a reflection on a lifetime of creativity, resilience, and reinvention. Through humor and honesty, she shares the journey of a Hoosier girl who turned dryer lint into a global artistic legacy.
Her first book signing will be Thursday, May 28, at 6 p.m. at Ball State University’s E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center, 400 Minnetrista Boulevard. Reservations can be made by calling (765) 285-8975 or emailing ebball@bsu.edu.
Ann’s most memorable stories don’t begin in a grand studio or an elite art school, but with something far more ordinary: lint from a dryer. In 1964, she transformed that discarded material into something unexpected—a sculpted clock. That moment of curiosity and ingenuity sparked a career that would redefine how art could be made and shared with the world.
Her early experiment evolved into F.B. Fogg, a brand that would eventually place her whimsical, handcrafted works in more than 1,600 galleries worldwide. Her creations—handmade paper sculptures, clocks, and mixed-media pieces—were anything but ordinary. One of her most iconic designs, a cow-shaped clock, featured a swinging tongue pendulum and whiskers that told time. When it appeared on a Canadian cooking show, demand exploded overnight, with more than 600 orders flooding in. Many Muncie residents fondly remember her iconic Main Street shop in the 1980s and 1990s, where a large paper angel hung above the entryway. Walking into the store was as exciting as owning a sought-after Fogg piece.
Her imaginative work also attracted prominent collectors, including Steven Spielberg, David Letterman, and Madeleine Albright, and two of her sculptural lamps were installed in the East Wing of the White House. She also received commissions for larger-than-life sculptures and mobiles for malls and major retail spaces across the United States, including Las Vegas.
To call Ann simply a sculptor would be to miss the point. Her work spans painting, jewelry, wearable art, and fashion design. Her personal style is bold, imaginative, and unmistakably her own, mirroring the playful spirit of her creations.
Long before international recognition, Ann’s worldview was shaped by an unconventional childhood. Raised in part on a strawberry farm in Angola, Indiana, she learned early the rhythms of labor—planting, picking, and selling. Her upbringing was also marked by extraordinary experiences abroad. Her grandfather, a judge involved in the Nuremberg tribunals after World War II, brought Ann and her grandmother to Germany, exposing her to global perspectives, history, and the complexities of human experience.
Today, Ann stands as one of Indiana’s most quietly extraordinary creative forces—an artist, entrepreneur, teacher, and mentor whose influence extends far beyond her studio along the White River in Muncie. While her personal success is remarkable, her legacy is equally defined by what she has built for others.
In Muncie, she founded Artworks, a cooperative gallery that brought together 27 artists in a shared creative space. She chaired the city’s first Renaissance Fair, helped establish arts organizations, and served on numerous community boards. Internationally, she worked with UNESCO, helping women in developing countries form art cooperatives and empowering them to turn creativity into economic independence. She also maintains active memberships in numerous arts organizations, staying deeply engaged in the community.
Even in semi-retirement, Ann continues to mentor emerging artists, helping them navigate the often-daunting path from passion to profession. Whether guiding a young painter or leading an art tour, she brings the same energy and insight that have defined her career.
Ann’s accolades are as varied as her work. She has been named a Sagamore of the Wabash—one of Indiana’s highest civilian honors—and was recognized as a Presidential Art Teacher in 1976. Her work has earned top awards at prestigious exhibitions, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
For more than four decades, Ann has taught in public schools, at universities such as Ball State, and in workshops across the country. Her classes are known not only for their technical instruction but also for their transformative impact. She doesn’t just teach people how to paint; she teaches them how to see. For more than 25 years, she has taught primarily watercolor classes at the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center, where she has impacted the lives of more than 2,000 students.
“Art and culture classes have been central to the Center’s mission since Mrs. Bertha Ball first supported the arts in her family home,” said Diane Watters, associate director of the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center. “Ann’s classes are a point of pride for us. She has a rare ability to teach both seasoned painters and beginners in the same setting, making her classes appealing to artists at every stage.”
About the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center
The E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center is a historic facility operated by Ball State University that serves as a hub for lifelong learning and cultural enrichment. Originally built in 1907 as a private residence for members of the Ball family, the home was donated to the university in 1977 and repurposed as a continuing education center. Today, the Center offers noncredit courses, workshops, lectures, and cultural programs for adults, covering topics such as art, history, languages, writing, and personal development.
For more information about the book signing or programs offered by the E. B. and Bertha C. Ball Center, contact Diane Watters at ebball@bsu.edu.
