Best known for his Paradise Garden, which he built in Pennville, Georgia, Howard Finster was a self-taught artist whose folksy brand of postmodern art strongly reflected the gregarious personality he was known for. Energetic and fantastical, Finster's paintings and prints come alive with spectacular detail and color. His work is crowded with text, Surrealist figures and miniature crosses, eyeballs, birds and stars.
A baptist minister by trade until his formal retirement in 1965, Finster spoke of an inspiration that came to him from on high. He experienced visions and claimed to hear the word of God in childhood, and often referred to himself as a “stranger from another world.” His visions led to a body of work he termed “sacred art,” a numbered series of thousands of paintings with strong religious overtones that took the form of text excerpts from the Bible and his own sermons. Finster painted portraits of Elvis Presley, James Dean and Abraham Lincoln, along with angels, devils, aliens and folklore figures like Santa Claus.
Prior to painting, Finster started constructing Paradise Garden, his most ambitious work, in the 1960s. A testament to human innovation and a tribute to God, this two-acre art environment consisted of varied recycled materials, concrete and sculptures. Its walls and walkways were embedded with TV tubes, bicycle parts and other found objects and scrap bits of metal sourced from Finster's repair business.
Finster began to exhibit his riveting folk art in 1976, when several of his pieces were included in “Missing Pieces: Georgia Folk Art, 1770-1976,” hosted at the Atlanta Historical Society and the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences in Savannah, among other institutions. The artist and his Paradise Garden were featured in the 1983 music video for American rock band R.E.M.'s song “Radio Free Europe.” Soon afterward, Finster was commissioned by another band, Talking Heads, to design the cover for the act’s Little Creatures album. Although he already had a fairly large local following, this exposure gave Finster's work national attention.
Finster died in 2001, leaving behind a legacy of what is now known as outsider art that could fill entire museums — more than 46,000 sculptures, paintings, prints and other works. The High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia, holds the largest collection of Finster's work.
Find authentic Howard Finster paintings and other art on 1stDibs.
Howard Finster Signed “Cheetah” Wood Cut-Out Sculpture, 1991
By Howard Finster
Located in Chattahoochee Hills, GA
A distinctive and visually dynamic cut-out sculpture by American folk art icon Rev. Howard Finster (1916–2001), titled “Cheetah” and numbered 20,000,342. Created in 1991, this hand-p...
Wood, Acrylic, Permanent Marker
Howard Finster Signed Wooden Religious Cut-Out Sculpture, “Faith” 1991
By Howard Finster
Located in Chattahoochee Hills, GA
A deeply spiritual and visually symbolic wooden sculpture by revered folk artist and preacher Rev. Howard Finster (1916–2001), dated 1991 and numbered 21,000,267. This hand-painted c...
Wood, Acrylic
Howard Finster Wooden Eagle Cut Out Statue With Religious Writing
By Howard Finster
Located in Chattahoochee Hills, GA
A bold, spiritually and politically charged eagle cut-out sculpture by visionary folk artist and preacher Rev. Howard Finster (1916–2001), dated 1991 and numbered 17,000,610. Crafted...
Wood, Acrylic, Permanent Marker
Rev. Howard Finster Wall-Mounted Painted Wood Cut-Out, 1992
By Howard Finster
Located in Chattahoochee Hills, GA
A rare and textural abstract wall sculpture by renowned folk artist and preacher Rev. Howard Finster (1916–2001), dated 1992 and numbered 25,000,621. This signed piece is hand-painte...
Wood, Acrylic, Permanent Marker
Howard Finster "Angel Baby" Wooden Cut-Out Sculpture, 1991
By Howard Finster
Located in Chattahoochee Hills, GA
A spiritually charged and visually iconic work by celebrated folk artist and preacher Rev. Howard Finster (1916–2001), titled “Angel Baby” and numbered 20,000,681. Created in 1991, t...
Wood, Acrylic, Permanent Marker
Howard Finster Signed “UGA Football Player” Metal Wall Hanging, 1992
By Howard Finster
Located in Chattahoochee Hills, GA
A playful and spirited metal wall hanging by legendary folk artist Rev. Howard Finster (1916–2001), dated 1992 and numbered 25,000,998. This mixed-media piece features a cartoonish U...
Metal
$2,063Sale Price|24% Off
H 13 in W 19 in D 11 in
Carreta Herencia de mi Tierra / Wood carving Alebrije Mexican Folk Art Sculpt
By Manuel Cruz Prudencio
Located in Jesus del Monte, MX
FREE SHIPPING TO WORLDWIDE! Artisan: Manuel Cruz Prudencio MASTERPIECE Made with Copal wood, woodcarving technique gouges, machete and sandpaper, decorated with acrylic paintings ...
Wood, Acrylic
$2,400
H 9 in W 8 in D 9 in
8" Loteria Purpura / Wood carving Mexican Folk Art Sculpture
By Roxana y Jesus Hernandez
Located in Jesus del Monte, MX
FREE SHIPPING TO WORLDWIDE! Artisan: Roxana y Jesus Hernandez MASTERPIECE Made with Copal wood, woodcarving technique gouges, machete and sandpaper, decorated with acrylic paintin...
Wood, Acrylic
$2,100
H 6 in W 16 in D 8 in
Aguila - Eagle - Mexican Folk Art Cactus Fine Art
By Manuel Cruz Prudencio
Located in Jesus del Monte, MX
Aguila - Eagle Alebrije This Mexican Aguila - Eagle Alebrije made with Copal wood, wood carving technique gouges, machete and sandpaper, decorated with acrylic paintings with Zapotec symbols. At Cactus Fine Art...
Wood, Acrylic
$2,400
H 24 in W 20 in D 18 in
24'' Nativity Avion Wood carving Alebrije Sculpture Mexican Folk Art
By Agustin Cruz Tinoco
Located in Jesus del Monte, MX
FREE SHIPPING TO WORLDWIDE! Artisan: Agustin Cruz Tinoco MASTERPIECE: Made with Copal wood, woodcarving technique gouges, machete and sandpaper, decorated with acrylic paintings wi...
Wood, Acrylic
$1,400
H 16 in W 12 in D 6 in
Frida Espectacular - Amazing Frida - Mexican Folk Art Cactus Fine Art
By Taller Alfonso Castillo Orta
Located in Jesus del Monte, MX
Frida Espectacular - Amazing Frida Made with natural clay and polychrome painting. Hand-modeled technique and cooked in an oven. LISTING =================================== 1 Ceramic Frida =================================== DETAILS =================================== Time of Preparation: 2.5 months Made: Izuca de Matamoros, Puebla, México. Dimensions: 12" x 16" x 6" in or 30x 40" x 15 cm Artisan: Taller Alfonso Castillo Orta...
Ceramic, Acrylic
$1,500
H 6.5 in W 8 in D 22.25 in
Vintage Alligator by Oaxacan Master Carver Gerardo Ramirez Morales
By Gerardo Ramirez Morales
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Alligator 1989 Gerardo Ramirez Morales San Antonio Arrazola, Oaxaca, Mexico Copal wood, acrylic paint Signed 22.25 inches L. x 6.50 inches H. (at tail) x 8 inches W. This amazing al...
Wood, Acrylic
$1,200
H 2.25 in W 5.5 in D 5.5 in
Vintage Silver Plate and Tortoise Frog by Maitland Smith
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout mid century life size frog sculpture or object of art handcrafted in silver plate on bronze with a tortoise shell terrazzo back. Signed Maitland Smith on the bottom.
Silver
$188,900
H 3.25 in Dm 3.5 in
Original HAND SIGNED AND NUMBERED 7/30 Pumpkin (Red) Sculpture on base with box
By Yayoi Kusama
Located in New York, NY
Yayoi Kusama Original Limited Edition hand signed and numbered Pumpkin (Red), 1998 Painted cast resin on ceramic tile in the original wood box, display plate and paper box Signed and...
Ceramic, Resin, Mixed Media, Permanent Marker
Lizard Sculpture by Maitland-Smith
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Life size lizard sculpture or object of art handcrafted with silver plate on bronze metal head, legs, and bottom and featuring a tortoise shell terrazzo back. Signed Maitland-Smith o...
Silver
$2,500
H 12 in W 6 in D 5 in
Woman with Dog, Table-top Bronze Sculpture by Branko Bahunek
By Branko Bahunek
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Branko Bahunek, Croatian (1935 - ) Title: Woman with Dog Year: circa 1990 Medium: Bronze Sculpture, Signature 'BB' inscribed Size: 12 x 6 x 5 in. (30.48 x 15.24 x 12.7 cm...
Bronze
$2,400
H 13 in W 4.5 in D 5.5 in
Rare Vintage Israeli Judaica Rabbi Klezmer Violinist Sculpture Frank Meisler Art
By Frank Meisler
Located in Surfside, FL
Rare Vintage unusual piece. In this bronze or metal sculpture by Frank Meisler, the artist depicts a Klezmer violin player The figure seems cartoon-like with exaggerated facial featu...
Stone, Metal
Vintage Italian Tole Pineapple
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout mid century Italian tole sculpture or object of art crafted in metal with a painted green top over a stylized gilt pineapple. Stamped Italy on ...
Metal
More Than A Piece Of Cloth
By Howard Finster
Located in Miami, FL
TECHNICAL INFORMATION More Than A Piece Of Cloth 1990 Screeenprint 26 x 36 in. Edition of 100 Pencil signed, numbered, and titled
Screen
Sold
H 22.5 in W 13.75 in
Howard Finster "Heavens of Olika" Folk Art Painting 1996
By Howard Finster
Located in San Francisco, CA
Howard Finster "Heavens of Olika" Folk Art Painting 1996 Oil on board. Dimensions 11" x 20". The frame measures 13.75" x 22.5". Signed and dated by th...
Acrylic, Board
Angel's Paradise
By Howard Finster
Located in Miami, FL
This is one of Finster early and more desirable works. Work is Signed lower right, Howard Finster
Oil
Folk Art Angel
By Howard Finster
Located in Buffalo, NY
You are viewing a fantastic one of a kind hand carved hand painted wooden sculpture by listed American Folk Artist Howard Finster! For forty years, Howard Finster was a minister. A...
Wood, Acrylic
Elephant
By Howard Finster
Located in Buffalo, NY
You are viewing a fantastic one of a kind hand carved hand painted wooden sculpture by listed American Folk Artist Howard Finster! For forty years, Howard Finster was a minister. ...
Acrylic, Wood