Howard Finster (AL/GA, 1916-2001), Uncle Sam Figure

1994, painted wood cutout of Uncle Sam mounted to rectangular base, signed to pants, with musings on paper adhered to base, additional signature, date, and musings to verso.

22 x 10 x 3 3/4 in.

Private Collection, Raleigh, 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.

Break and repair with putty to joint of figure and base.

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