Howard Finster: Visionary Godfather of American Outsider Art

Join us for a presentation by Norman Girardot, Professor Emeritus, Lehigh University, on one of outsider art's most colorful artists.
About this Event

Reverend Howard Finster, a self-proclaimed "Man of Visions" and "Stranger from Another World," was one of America's most prolific self-taught artists, recording visionary prophecies and glimpses of a celestial world revealed to him by God.

Please join us for an illustrated talk by esteemed author Norman Girardot, Professor Emeritus of Comparative Religion at Lehigh University: “Howard Finster: Visionary Godfather of American Outsider Art," on Thursday, Oct 29, at 6:30pm.

Discover the astounding world of Howard Finster who transformed his faith, American popular culture, and everyday objects into thousands of wildly imaginative works, some of which are on view in the Keen Collection. Whether you know his art or not, Finster’s story will change the way you think about who can be an artist and what art can be.

Event Details

• Preview (6:00pm): Explore the remarkable Keen Collection of Outsider Art at Bethany Mission
• Illustrated Lecture (6:30pm): Professor Norman Girardot speaks, followed by a Q&A with Girardot and Victor Keen
• Reception (7:30pm): Continue the conversation with fellow art lovers at an informal Meet & Greet

THE KEEN COLLECTION WEBSITE:

The Keen Collection at Bethany Mission - 1527 Brandywine Street - Philadelphia 19130 [email protected]

Agenda

🕑: 06:00 PM
Doors open

Info: Explore the Keen Collection of Outsider Art, including drawings & paintings by Howard Finster, James Castle, Sam Doyle, William Hawkins, Martin Ramirez, Bill Traylor, and George Widener, to name a few, in addition to folk art, Catalin radios, antique metal toys & banks, milk glass, ceramic pot lids, posters, signage, banners & photographs, and antique toasters.

🕑: 06:30 PM
“Howard Finster: Visionary Godfather of American Outsider Art"
Host: Norman Girardot

Info: Professor Emeritus at Lehigh University and noted author Norman Girardot will offer an illustrated talk on Reverend Howard Finster's work. A self-proclaimed "Man of Visions," Finster was one of America's most prolific self-taught artists, producing close to 47,000 works before his death in 2001. He saw himself as a sacred artist, recording visionary prophecies and glimpses of a celestial world revealed to him by God—visions that felt entirely real and fueled a lifetime of creative output. His preacher's showmanship fueled his growing celebrity, even as fame came to define his final years. Through it all, Finster stayed true to his inner voice—to make sacred art—leaving behind a legacy suspended between reverence for his tireless devotion and his singular place in American art history. The talk will be followed by a Q&A with Girardot and Victor Keen.

🕑: 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM
Reception

Info: Continue the conversation with fellow art lovers at an informal Meet & Greet, with additional time to view the Keen Collection.