Kansas Carver- Tanner Johnson

Tanner Colvin
Jun 8
1 min read

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLuCfoGo108

Tanner Johnson is a professional wood carver, and passionate Kansan from Lindsborg. While studying anthropology at Kansas State University, he traveled to Ecuador as a student researcher and ultimately spent nearly two decades living in remote rural communities. There, he worked as an English teacher, translator, farmer, and cultural observer while immersing himself in local traditions and raising a family. His experiences abroad profoundly shaped both his worldview and his artistic voice.

Johnson discovered wood carving while living in Ecuador, teaching himself the craft with simple hand tools and locally sourced hardwoods. What began as a creative outlet evolved into a serious artistic pursuit focused on realistic human figures and expressive faces. Today, his work is recognized for its remarkable detail and emotional depth, with each carving reflecting countless hours of study, patience, and craftsmanship.

Much of Johnson’s recent work is inspired by Jewish history and culture, particularly the lives of ordinary people captured in photographs from pre-Holocaust Eastern Europe. Through his carvings, he seeks to honor individual stories, preserve memory, and encourage thoughtful conversations about history, identity, and humanity. Now back in Kansas with his wife and daughters, Johnson continues to carve, exhibit, and share his work while drawing inspiration from both his Kansas roots and his years abroad.

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