❥ happy mother's day

this week in outsider art features a japanese firemen jacket from the 19th century, an asafo flag, and meco mask, plus a happy mother's day to all and to all a good night!

May 11, 2025

THIS WEEK IN OUTSIDER ART

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A decorated 19th-century fireman’s coat from Japan, with a spider hovering over an abandoned Go board. The scene is from the story of the warrior-hero Minamoto no Yorimitsu (948–1021), who, once when sick, was visited by an evil priest in the guise of a giant spider via *Public Domain Review*

**FANTE** Asafo Company Flag (Frankaa) (early to mid–20th century; present day Ghana) // Textile with appliqué and embroidery; 56 x 36 1/2 in. via *Brooklyn Museum*

**YAKOB MORLEY** Skull and Rose (2025) // Acrylic on wood; 24x16x19cm via *the artist*

Meco Mask (c. 1960) from Mexico via *Museum of International Folk Art*

**MARTÍN RAMÍREZ** Madonna (c. 1950-1953) // Crayon, graphite, and watercolor on pieced wove papers; 43 15/16 x 32 3/8 inches (111.6 x 82.2 cm) via *Philadelphia Museum of Art*

**ARTIST UNKNOWN** Coin purse (1790–1810; Mexican) // Glass, silk, metal via *The Met Museum*

Gravestone of John Adams, carved by John New of Massachusetts in 1754 via Farber Gravestone Collection from *American Antiquarian Society*

**SARAH LEE** The honeymoon cruise (2024) // Acrylic on Canvas -- *available for purchase via the artist in the FolkArtwork Collective shop*

**UNKNOWN** Mask for a crocodile mummy (c. 600-30 BCE; Egypt) // Wood and gold leaf; H. 13.3 cm (5 1/4 in.); W. 8.8 cm (3 7/16 in.); L. 13.5 cm (5 5/16 in.) via *The Met Museum*

**MINNIE ADKINS** Untitled (Possum Stool) (ca. 1991) // Paint on wood; 15 7/10 × 15 × 9 1/10 in | 40 × 38 × 23 cm via *Gallery of Everything*

**ALICE MACKLER** Untitled (double-sided) (2020) // Glazed ceramic; 8 x 17 x 5.5 in via *Kerry Schuss Gallery*

**JON SERL** Between Two Worlds (1982) // Oil on board; 60 3/8 × 60 3/8 × 1" via *American Folk Art Museum*

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FEATURED ARTIST OF THE WEEK

**PAM PUCK** Hello Kitty Imp (2024) // Mixed media, acrylic paint; 11" W x 5" H x 3" D via *the artist*

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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?

**STEVE ASHBY** Mother and Child *(1970) //* Painted wood, hair, cotton; 8 × 3 1/2 × 1 1/4″ *via American Folk Art Museum*

Obviously, this one goes out to all the moms.

I’ve probably shared the above image at least a handful of times, every year on Mother’s Day, but Steve Ashby’s “Mother and Child” is just tremendous, and it never gets old.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, and anyone who has assumed the role of a mother, or whoever your mother figure may be. One day? This should be celebrated every damn day of the year. What would we do without mothers? The strongest, kindest, gentlest, and loving people we have walking this earth.

I’m honored to have two incredible mothers in my life, my mom and the mother to my wonderful children. Whom I, and my children, drive crazy every single day but thank heavens they are patient with us!

And an extra special Happy Mother’s Day to two of my favorite quilters of all-time, the dynamic quilting duo mother/daughter team of Pearlie Posey (1894-1984) and her daughter Sarah Mary Taylor (1916-2000).

Sarah Mary Taylor learned from her mother, using the designs and patterns she taught her, and her aunt Pecolia Warner. She creates some of the most dynamic, vibrant, and joyful quilts around. Her quilts had it all — raccoons, hands, animals, and ladies. All the more colorful and incredible than the last.

Happy Mother’s Day to all, and all a good night!

SHOUT OUT

theweegalleryatx

A post shared by @theweegalleryatx

Shout out to The Wee Gallery, the cutest and dopest kid-run gallery, which is a finalist for Best of Austin in the Kids & Family Wild Card category!!!

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FROM THE COLLECTIVE

JACKIE BRADSHAW is a neurodivergent, endometriosis warrior folk/outsider artist from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. She spent years working as a PSW until the birth of her son prompted her to start a small home daycare.
During this time, she utilized leftover paints from the kids to create mirror image paintings. She added ink or crayon to extract images from the splatters of paint that she perceived. Becoming deeply engrossed in this process she produced hundreds of paintings. Jackie has continued creating art as a means to quiet her mind and body.

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