Howard Finster (American, 1916-2001), Desert Taxi

1989, carved and painted wood with applied paper to stand, inscribed "God is Love/Jesus Saves/Desert Taxi/Howard Finster" to camel's body alongside desert and Christian imagery, musings on affixed paper label to stand, the side of stand labeled "DONT COVER UP GOD AND GENISES [sic] WITH A MONKEY/STORY HE IS A ZOO PET FOR KIDS FUN."; inscribed with date, signature, and musings to verso.

8 1/4 x 11 3/4 x 4 in.

From the Estate of the late Susan C. Frankenberg, Hillsborough, North Carolina

The Rev. Howard Finster was born in 1916 in Valley Head, Alabama, and died in 2001 in Summerville, Georgia. One of America’s most recognized outsider artists, Finster was a preacher for 45 years until 1976 when he experienced a vision and afterward began painting religious art as well as everyday objects such as Coke bottles in bright colors. He created album covers for R.E.M., Talking Heads, and other bands, appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and welcomed a steady stream of people (including artist Keith Haring) who made the pilgrimage to his roadside attraction/folk art environment, Paradise Garden.

Areas of loss to paper label to stand; otherwise good estate condition.