Howard Finster (AL/GA, 1916-2001), Two Folk Art Painted Gourds

Lot Details & Additional Photographs

Late 20th century, the first with red ground, painted face to front and musings to posterior, includes wire to stem for hanging (8 1/2 x 8 x 8 in.); the second with blue ground, three painted faces, a budding plant, and musings to whole, dated 1983 (8 1/4 x 6 1/2 x 7 in.), both signed.

Private Collection, Chicago and North Carolina

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, in bright colors, religious art as well as everyday objects such as Coke bottles. The Rev. Howard Finster was born Dec. 2, 1916, in Valley Head, Alabama, and died Oct. 22, 2001, in Summerville, GA. He worked up 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 (from regular folks to the famous, such as artist Keith Haring) who made the pilgrimage to his roadside attraction/folk art environment, Paradise Garden.

Blue gourd with scattered paint flecks and break to stem; both with small areas of paint cracking.