Bessie Johnson

Bessie Johnson is a visual artist based in Tibbee, Mississippi, who is best known for her incorporation of natural materials, such as pine needles, gourds, corn shucks, china berries, and black walnuts, into her crafts. She has been a practicing artist for over four decades, combining these materials to create exquisite pine needle baskets. Her signature technique involves shaping the baskets with tightly coiled longleaf pine needles and embellishing them with decorative "wheels" crafted from cross-sections of black walnuts. These walnut rings, often layered into her designs in varying sizes, are a hallmark of her work. As a child, Johnson watched her father weave chair seats and baskets out of corn shucks and white oak; she credits him as her inspiration for her unique techniques. Bessie now shares her expertise with the greater community through residencies in schools, universities, and senior centers. Johnson is also a charter member of the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi.

Recently, Bessie has turned to a new practice: burnt matchstick art. She uses charred matchsticks, glue, and simple tools to decorate everyday objects. Where her father sparked her love of basketry, she takes inspiration from her quilter mother in the creation of the pieces, as many designs are influenced by traditional quilt designs like the classic eight-point star.

Bessie’s distinctive blend of traditional techniques with contemporary vision has earned her national recognition. She has received many honors including the 2010 Governor’s Award for Arts Excellence. Her work has been exhibited nationally—from the 1984 Louisiana World’s Fair to the White House. Whether weaving pine needles or arranging burnt matchsticks, Bessie Johnson continues to share the joy of handmade art and beauty of natural materials with audiences across Mississippi and beyond.