Catfish Man Monumental Hand Painted Folk Art Wood Assemblage Cross

Item Details

Michael “Catfish Man” Suter (Georgia/West Virginia, 20th/21st century)
Untitled (Calgary Resurrection Day sculpture)
Hand painted wood assemblage
Signed to lower edge

Self-taught artist Michael Suter describes his pseudonym ‘Catfish Man’ as a naturalist persona that he adopted while living in the mountains for twenty years, before he began to create art. After living in the mountains, he moved to Athens, Georgia where he became very close to Howard Finster’s family and other artists in the region. It was in Georgia that he began salvaging discarded items from Habitat for Humanity which he used to create his first mixed media assemblages. The first piece Catfish Man created was a 1950s tin tea cart that he upcycled, embellished it with black paint, and added the phrase “axe me nicely or don’t axe me at all.” At times he would paint on the site where he found the discarded items, such as ditches or along river banks. He realized a regional interest in his work and began selling to collectors. Over time, Catfish Man developed his unique style and describes his process as a psychic automatic approach, releasing himself to a trance state while creating art, in the manner of Surrealist Automatists. Many of his works feature assembled discarded items and scraps painted with boldly outlined figures, faces, and motifs rendered with simples shapes and vibrant colors.

• Please note, this is an item that may be especially difficult to move and/or transport. The winner is responsible for bringing appropriate assistance, vehicle, proper materials, and any necessary tools to pickup. International shipping may be restricted.

Condition

- accretion throughout; minor nicks and surface wear.

Dimensions

Item #

ITMG267683