Renowned Georgia folk artist the Rev. Howard Finster proclaimed himself a “Man of Visions.”
His calling to make sacred art resulted in the creation of nearly 47,000 paintings and sculptures. In the process, Finster transformed his property in Summerville, Georgia, into what would become known as a “folk art environment,” which he named Paradise Garden.
Finster’s work has been shown at the Venice Biennale, the National Gallery, the Corcoran, L.A. County Museum and is in the permanent collection at the High Museum of Art.
His artwork graced the album covers of R.E.M.’s “Reckoning” and The Talking Heads’ “Little Creatures,” which won Rolling Stone magazine’s 1985 Album Cover of the Year award.
“He [Finster] had such a generous personality, and one thing he always did was say, ‘Yes to life,’” said Tina Cox, executive director of the Paradise Garden Foundation.
