Jasper Johns (* 15 May 1930 in Augusta, Georgia) is a versatile US painter, sculptor, stage and costume designer. He is considered a pioneer of Pop Art, whose work is associated with Abstract Expressionism, Neo-Dada and Pop Art. He is known for his depictions of the American flag and other US themes. Johns' works regularly sell for millions of dollars. On several occasions, works by Johns have held the title of the highest paid work by a living artist. Johns has received many awards throughout his career, including receiving the National Medal of Arts in 1990 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. In 2018, the New York Times named him the "most important living artist" in the United States.