❥ war is a terrible beast

this week in outsider art features a maria prymachenko, sarah mary taylor and bill traylor, plus shout out to my student teacher and you should watch "any day now"

May 17, 2026

THIS WEEK IN OUTSIDER ART

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**MARIA PRYMACHENKO** War is a Terrible Beast (1968) // Gouache on paper via the Ponamarchuk Family Private Collection (h/t *The Observer*)

**Sarah Mary Taylor,** "Figures" Quilt (c. 1979-1983) via *Philadelphia Museum of Art*

**BILL TRAYLOR** Untitled (Figures with Blue and Brown House) (c. 1939-1942) // Graphite and tempera on repurposed card; 13 x 8 in. (33 x 20.3 cm.) via *Christies*

**ESTHER PEARL WATSON** I Wish Aliens (2025) // Acrylic and glitter on panel; 20.3 cm x 25.4 cm. *Andrew Edlin Gallery*

**PAM PUCK** The Witch (2025) // Pastel on paper; 16.5 x 11.5 inches (42 x 30 cm) — *available for purchase via the artist in the FolkArtwork Collective shop*

Pam Puck Drop: Self-Taught Artwork For Purchase From Around The Globe

Set of four crayon-drawn mandalas by John Mosher (Grade 3 in 1939) // approx 5 1/4" x 5 1/4" via Critical Eye Finds

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Painting by Giorgio Nardelotto via tapuindependentart.eu

**RENEESHA MCCOY** House of Birds (2026) // Acrylic, Paint Marker, Ink and Oil Pastel on Canvas; 36 x 36 inches (91.5 x 91.5 cm) — *available for purchase via the artist in the FolkArtwork Collective shop*

**KAY LE SEELLEUR ARA** The Little Winged Men Playing With Their Shoebills (2022) // Acrylic on Board; 24 x 17.5 inches (61 x 44.5 cm) — *available for purchase via the artist in the FolkArtwork Collective shop*

Guyodo untitled ballpoint pen drawing on paper via *Musee LaM*

Artwork by Jimmy Tucker, part of “Delores Nita Felicia” // A Jimmy Tucker Solo Exhibition at *Summertime Gallery*

“This is my favorite” — Milo Oestreich

FEATURED ARTIST OF THE WEEK

**MELINDA R. SMITH** What an Absolute Shitshow (the Crying House) (2026) // Acrylic on wood; 11x14” courtesy *the artist*

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A FEW THINGS…

My friend Maram and her children are still suffering in Gaza and could use your help if you’re willing and able.
Solidarity! More Than 100 Seattle Art Museum Workers Plan to Unionize
The Polish School of Posters - A Remarkable Period in Graphic Design History
I used to live in Texas. Folk Art Lives On in Texas

OH WORD?

Last weekend, I watched this really fun film, “Any Day Now”, a crime comedy based on the 1990 Gardner Museum theft in Boston, which offers a rather unique, semi-fictionalized take on how the whole wild thing went down. Art? Crime? Silliness? Some lolz? I’m in.

Ever since I learned about the Gardner Museum Heist years ago, I’ve been extremely fascinated with everything that went down. Like, did you know that most stolen artwork — including this Manet titled “Chez Tortoni” — isn’t stolen to be sold, but is usually taken by criminals to negotiate for reduced sentences or the release of one of their buddies? At least that’s what I’ve always told my art history students when we plan our heists!

Anyway, this film was a really good time and worth a watch if you’re interested in what could have possibly happened decades ago in Boston, back when over $500 million worth of art was stolen and never seen again.

You should stream “Any Day Now” on Amazon or Apple whenever you get a chance.

watch now

SHOUT OUT

Shout out to my student teacher for getting me this phenomenal book that I can’t wait to dive into this summer!

FROM THE COLLECTIVE

PAM PUCK is a self-taught artist born in the United States and currently based in Ferrara, Italy. Pam teaches English and spends the rest of her time sculpting and drawing. Her work combines depictions of monsters, demons, aliens, self-portraits, and imagery from ancient art to create scenes that combat hopelessness with humor. By creating simplified figures, incorporating erotic elements, and using vibrant color palettes, Puck creates a unique symbolic language that’s deceptive in its playfulness.

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This Week in Outsider Art

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