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Venue: Krannert Art Museum and Kinkead Pavilion

Address: 500 E. Peabody Drive , Champaign

Cost: Free

Entry Age: all

Posted 9:53 am Dec 15
Updated 10:26 am Jan 11

An evangelistic preacher in paint and self-proclaimed "man of visions," Reverend Howard Finster considered himself a sacred artist, fulfilling visionary prophesies revealed to him by God through a heavenly, outer space world. These experiences were very real to Finster and provided a seemingly limitless variety of images for his art, which numbered over 46,000 pieces.

Born in rural Alabama in 1916, Finster was a preacher, tent revivalist, and "master of 22 different trades" before he began building his roadside tribute to inventors. This junk-encrusted wonderland, later dubbed Paradise Garden, became his life's work. In 1976, Finster heard a voice that told him to “paint sacred art.” The artist’s focus changed direction as he began churning out thousands of sermon-laden artworks with subjects ranging from historical figures and popular culture icons to evangelistic fantasy landscapes and futuristic cities. Most works are meticulously lettered with Finster’s own words and biblical verses.

This exhibition provides an in-depth survey of the artist’s prolific career, explores his influences, and lends understanding and insight into Reverend Howard Finster’s journey from rural farm boy to one of the most widely known self-taught artists of the twentieth century.

Go to www.kam.illinois.edu/ for more information.