Howard Finster Folk Art Cut Wood Painting "It Is Left Up To You," 1990

Item Details

Reverend Howard Finster (American, 1916—2001)
It Is Left Up To You To Pass Us To Future People, 1990
Acrylic painting on cut wood
Signed on the verso
Front: “Howard Finster from God man of visions speaking to you by folk art – my hands get tires but never stop. I measure your soul from bottom to top. I can’t stand to see you late. Just out side of God’s gates. To all of you I may never meet. Get ready to join me on God’s golden streets. Where you and I with angels meet. Where I will bowe [sic] at Jesus feet. Good Bless You All”; Verso: “By Howard Finster Mar.26.1990, 9:11:PM God Bless You All”

Howard Finster was a minister for over forty years in Alabama, the place where he was born. After retirement he moved to Summerville, Georgia, where he turned his swampland into Paradise Garden in reflection of his religious beliefs and a vision that sent him on a mission to create sacred art. Finster used oil, watercolor, lacquer and other paints on found objects and salvaged pieces of glass and cardboard to make religious folk art creations. His works have been featured on album covers for popular rock bands such as the Talking Heads which was featured as the 1985 album of the year in Rolling Stones Magazine, as well as on REM’s Reckoning album cover. Perhaps his most well known work is the eight foot tall Coca-Cola bottle commissioned for the 1996 Olympic Games global art project. Finster promised God he would create 5,000 paintings in his lifetime and in the end created 46,991 numbered pieces.

Condition

- wear and loss of finish to edges of painted board; wear and small losses to edges of base; standing cut figure is somewhat loose from base.

Dimensions

Item #

ITMG681370