#143 • Johnny Johnson "River of Bears" & "Fishing for Reds" Photographs

Part of The Johnny Johnson Estate Auction (timed auction by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals)

Starting at $5.00

Status: Available

Bidding closes Nov 3, 2026 6:47 PM AKST

Category: Art

Two signed and numbered photographs by Alaska wildlife photographer Johnny Johnson (1947–2025). "River of Bears", c.2000, is numbered 28/950. A mother brown bear leads her young through shallow water below green riverbanks, within a broad valley enclosed by rugged mountain walls. The accompanying artist's leaflet describes the encounter: "Each summer dozens of brown bears gather along Alaska's coastal rivers to feed on salmon that return to spawn each year. This female bear arrived late one evening with her three yearling cubs. She caught a half-dozen salmon and made sure the cubs stayed close by her for protection from other bears and so they could learn how to fish. The gull waits patiently for fish scraps." "Fishing for Reds", c.1987, is numbered 111/950. A salmon hangs in mid-leap beside a brown bear standing in foaming river water. Light catches the wet fur along the animal's back and the silver flank of the fish against the dark, rushing water. Both are signed, dated, and numbered in the lower left corner in gold leaf ink and printed on Fuji Crystal Archive Supergloss paper. Also included are 1997/98 The Art of Johnny Johnson catalogs, an artist's biography sheet, a 1987 issue of Alaska magazine, a 1990 issue of Illustrert Vitenskap, and Johnny Johnson's 2015 Alaska Wildlife Calendar. They are matted and framed under glass. The larger photograph measures approximately 24" x 32" overall.