Kay 'Kaja' Johnson was an American bohemian, published poet and painter who was at one time living in the Beat Hotel in Paris with William Burroughs in 1962.
Kay 'Kaja' Johnson is not particularly well documented; however, she appeared to leave a legacy with those who knew her, including author Charles Bukowski. She was born in Missouri and moved to New Orleans before becoming involved in the 50s 'Beat' movement in Greenwich Village. Her book 'Human Songs' a collection of poems, was being worked on during her time in Paris at the legendary 'Beat Hotel.' It was during this time Duffy photographed her. 400 copies were produced in 1964, yet many of her other works seem to have been lost. A quote from Kaja in the article:
"I came here to artistic friendship and found only loneliness. It was as if I were out in the Sahara desert. I used to believe that life, love, poets, and painters existed outside of the world, that somewhere out there was this beautiful group of angels. This is the great American myth. I was bitten by the teeth of the grand American illusion. Every man that I meet is a Picasso and artistically speaking I cease to be a virgin. And when I get up near to the clouds, there is no more myth and I realise that everything is real. My art has been a revolt and a lament."
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