Howard Finster Wooden Folk Art Cut-Out "George Washington"

Item Details

A vintage folk art style wooden cut out construction by well-listed American folk artist and minister Reverend Howard Finster (1916 – 2001). This stylized piece depicts George Washington via a wood cutout panel on a rectangular base, covered in painted crosses, symbols and inscriptions. The work is signed to the lower right of the shirt with a handwritten inscription to the verso, dated Oct. 4 1991 and numbered 21,000.345.

Howard Finster was a minister for forty years in Alabama, 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 compositions. 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. Perhaps most well known for his 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

- minor edge and surface wear, with some loss to finish.

Dimensions

Item #

18LEX047-059