Howard+Finster

Be ready to go."
-Howard Finster (his last message to the world)

[|Howard Finster] emerged from the rural Appalachian culture of northwest Georgia to become one of America's most important folk artist. He was a visionary artist who worked in various visual media. The critics coined him as "the Picasso of folk artist". Howard called himself a "stranger from another world" and a "man of visions," and described his brain as being "beyond the light of the sun". Finster's most original and powerful creations are located in his north Georgia garden, were his sculptural and architectural works within it, such as his bicycle frame constructions, the World's Folk Art Church and the powerful paintings of the 1970's and early 1980's. His later works are rich in poetic invention, apocalyptic visions and are laced with humor and are personal with universal imagery. During the last fifteen years of Finster's life, he continued to be featured in numerous exhibitions, the most significant being that of his retrospective at the High Museum of Art. Howard finister passed away in 2001, after living a fulfilling life of 86 years.