Early Life, Family and Training Jasper Johns was born on May 15, 1930, in Augusta, Georgia. His parents' marriage ended in divorce when he was very young, leading him to be raised in South Carolina. He spent much of his childhood in Allendale, South Carolina, living with his paternal grandparents. Later, he spent time with his mother and stepfather in Columbia, and eventually lived with his Aunt Gladys on Lake Murray. He began drawing at the age of three. By the time he reached high school, he was already focused on his craft, eventually graduating as the valedictorian of the class of 1947 fr…