Close Up

Commissioned for the 2010 Sheffield Children’s Festival, Close Up included portrait photography workshops in 15 schools throughout the city of Sheffield with children aged from 5 to 16. Johnson made photographic portraits of over 500 children within these workshops. These images were later collaged to create a giant photographic mosaic of Sherrelle Parker, a child nominated for her outstanding contribution to her community.

The artwork was printed 18 × 25 metres and displayed on the iconic Sheffield Park Hill flats – the largest artwork created for the city to date.

Discussion of the project was featured on Radio 4’s Front Row programme as an outstanding project in support of Sheffield’s shortlisted bid as the 2013 UK City of Culture.