Mindy Johnson

RMCAD + PUBLIC EVENTS

ABOUT THE artist + scholar

Mindy Johnson is an award-winning author, musician, filmmaker, educator, and animation historian with expertise on women in early animation. Her groundbreaking book Ink & Paint –The Women of Walt Disney’s Animation, (Disney Editions) redefines our collective history. Recipient of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences - AMPAS/Oscars.org Film Scholar Award and the ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Educators Forum Grant, Johnson’s research continues into the earliest women of animation with several forthcoming books and film projects. Most notably, she recently unearthed the oldest surviving hand-drawn animated and directed films by a woman, Bessie Mae Kelley. Her critically acclaimed debut Tinker Bell – An Evolution (Disney Editions) was honored with rare consecutive Family Choice Awards. She is a contributing writer for the epic volume The Walt Disney Film Archives –The Animated Movies 1921-1968, (Taschen) as well as the celebrated collection Marc Davis: Walt Disney’s Renaissance Man, (Disney Editions).

Johnson’s creative work extends to a wide range of film projects including associate producing the award-winning documentary Pencils vs. Pixels (2023). In addition to a background in network television and film production, Johnson is an award-winning playwright, songwriter, musician, and contributing artist on several internationally acclaimed recordings. 

When she isn’t speaking, researching, or writing on a myriad of subjects, Johnson also teaches film/animation studies, women’s animation history, and screenwriting and intercultural film at CalArts, UCLA, and Drexel University.

DESIGNER TALK

Tuesday, February 11, 2025
5:30 pm MST | Doors Open at 5:00 pm
Mary Harris Auditorium
Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design
1600 Pierce Street, Denver, CO 80214

Free and open to the public and offered in-person and via livestream.
Free refreshments for in-person attendees.

Pre-event registration is highly encouraged.

PRIVATE RMCAD events

STUDENT-LED Q+A SESSION

Wednesday, February 12, 2025
11:45 am - 12:45 pm
Location TBA
Lunch is provided

Student-Led Q + A Sessions are private, casual, in-person conversations open to RMCAD students, faculty, and staff. Guided by student voices, these discussions generate valuable professional advice for all students. 

Students! Apply to lead the conversation HERE.
The deadline to apply is Monday, February 3, 2025.

exclusive student event

Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Details to be announced.

Recommendation List

VASD Program visiting artists and designers provide a recommendation list that gives insight into their work, practice, and research. Artist and scholar, Mindy Johnson’s recommendation list will be available soon.