❥ creatures of the night

this week in outsider art features the story of sarah lee getting banned from art class, alien work and a "scary" bill traylor, plus, an asafo flag and my new favorite hat

Oct 13, 2024

THIS WEEK IN OUTSIDER ART

for daily postings of outsider art visit folkartwork.art or follow on Instagram

**SARAH LEE** Listen kitty, I live among the creatures of the night, I haven’t got the will to try and fight… (2024) // Giclee fine art prints on 320gsm cotton rag paper — *available for purchase via the artist in the FolkArtwork Collective shop*

**PAM PUCK** I Saw the Lights From My Window (2024) // Foam, air drying clay, paper mache paste and paint courtesy *the artist*

**BILL TRAYLOR** Untitled (Scary Creature) (c. 1939-1940) via *BET* // Photo: Courtesy of *American Folk Art Museum*

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**ARTIST UNKNOWN** Lion Cub & Snake (circa: 1860-80; Mansfield, Pennsylvania) // Wood carving; 7 3/8" (w) x 6 1/2" x 2 1/2" (d) via *Steven S. Powers*

**FANTE ARTIST UNKNOWN** Asafo Flag (20th century; Ghana) // Cotton; 69 1/2 × 37 inches (176.5 × 94 cm) via *Detroit Institute of Arts Museum*

**LAWRENCE LEBDUSKA** Hit-Mu-To (Hitler-Mussolini-Tojo) (1942) // Oil on Masonite; 25 7/8 × 32 1/4 in. (65.72 × 81.92 cm) via *Milwaukee Art Museum*

**REVEREND SAMUEL DAVID PHILLIPS** Revelations (c. 1950) // Pencil, crayon, water based paint on oil cloth canvas; 46 inches x 47 inches via *Intuit Art Center*

Catch Des Moines: "Faces In The Crowd" Art Exhibit Opening Reception

**KAY LE SEELLEUR ARA** The threat from the nipples was so great that they sent in a kamekaze style air force of algorithms to destroy them (c. 2024) via *the artist*

**CHRISTINE RANDOLPH** Devil's Night (2022) // Crayon on Paper; 19.75" x 25.5" via *Van Der Plas Gallery*

**ARTIST UNKNOWN** Double-Sided Chess and Parcheesi Game Board (c. 1920s; Possibly African American) // Hand painted on wood; 30" x 21" x .75" via *Lackluster Co*

Des Moines Register: Things To Do // "Faces In The Crowd" Art Exhibit

**JIMMY LEE SUDDUTH** Untitled (n.d.) // Acrylic on wood panel and chalk signature; 24 1/8 × 23 7/8 × 1/8 inches (61.3 × 60.6 × 0.3 cm) via *Telfair Museums*

Anonymous ex-voto from the collection of *Musée LaM*

**ARTIST UNKNOWN** Coin purse (1820–40; Mexican) // Glass, linen, silk via *The Met Museum*

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FEATURED ARTIST OF THE WEEK

**CHARLIE VISCONAGE** Release Doubt (2024) // Acrylic on stretched canvas courtesy *the artist*

be featured

WATCHING AND READING

Here are a few things I’ve been watching this past week:

Here are a few things I’ve been reading this past week:

OH WORD?

»Sarah Lee, Once Banned From Taking Art Classes, Never Stopped Creating«

*Sarah Lee in her home studio outside of London*

I'll never forget when I first came in contact with Sarah Lee. I was standing in my kitchen making breakfast for my kids and I couldn't stop reading her messages. She thought I would be interested in her work. I was! And her story, as she explained, was that she always made art but her art teachers thought it was no good. I was hooked!

I kept asking questions and wanted to learn more. I'm pretty sure the pancakes were burnt and smoke alarm was going off. I was so engrossed, I knew I had to learn more and see more work by this self-taught artist from London.

Since she was a kid, Sarah has made up characters and scenarios in her head and has always loved making art. In the past few years, since we have began working together I have been fortunate enough to see her work reach new heights and she has been selling work and exhibiting her magical surrealist creations all over the world.

As we approach the first-ever FolkArtwork exhibit, 'Faces In The Crowd,' I am extremely excited to share Sarah Lee's work with the people of Des Moines. Before the event, I had the privilege of learning more about her art journey. Hear about what inspires her "monster toddlers" and why she never quit making art, even when people told her she should.

Excerpts from my interview with Sarah Lee:

FolkArtwork: As a high school art teacher, I'm fascinated with students' art experiences and how confidence affects art making as a teenager in both a positive and negative way. What was your experience as a high school art student like?

Sarah Lee: For me it was a bit of both. For example, the art teacher I had at high school was not a fan of my artwork at all, so much so I was banned from taking it as a subject as she said I just simply did not have the ability to take it any further.

At the time, I don't remember exactly how I felt about it, but if I met her now I would shake her hand and say “thank you”. It didn't stop me from drawing every day, mostly all over my study books and other peoples, for which I was usually in trouble or put in detention.

I was a very quiet child and spent hours making up characters and strange scenarios. At one point, I remember some of the girls requesting I decorate their books and bags with my funny little drawings. I was happy about that.

Sarah Lee's work can be purchased in the FolkArtwork Collective shop and you can see her work on November 9th at the "Faces In The Crowd" FolkArtwork exhibit in Des Moines, Iowa.

read the full interview here

SHOUT OUT

Shout out to Alex Lockwood of Elephant Gallery in Nashville, Tennessee for the dopest of hats around. Just when I was looking for a new go to hat, this magically appears on my doorstep!

FROM THE COLLECTIVE

**ARTIST UNKNOWN** Antique Elephant Pull Toy (c. 1920s) // Carved wood and hand painted; 8 inches tall x 8 inches wide x 4 inches depth (approx.) — *available for purchase in the FolkArtwork Collective shop*

A fantastic hand crafted antique elephant pull toy with minor wear and tear considering it’s age (early to mid 20th century) including a chip on it’s tail yet it still retains much of its original red, white and blue paint and it’s unique charm.

available for purchase

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

» MEET THE COLLECTOR SERIES PART SIXTY-NINE — Adam Oestreich, Iowa «

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