Allen Wilson was born in 1960 and is the grandson of
Howard Finster. He worked in a local cotton mill until he
was 26 and began pursuing art full time. Allen's creations
are most unusual. He carves large figures such as clowns,
devils, prehistoric creatures and other figures f from rings
of wood, which he fits over bottles to make a torso. Then he
carves and paints details and adds the head (which comes
off, so the bottles are useable.) He also makes concrete
shrines which incorporate broken glass, mirrors and rocks.
Although he does make a few pieces cut from wood like the
other members of the Finster family most of his work is very
individual. He is a talented artist in his own right. His
work is in the permanent collection of the St. James Folk
Art Museum and Lehigh University. His Angel Cross Shrine
below was in the travelling exhibition "Revelations and
Reflections" which was on tour in 2004 and 2005.
Angel Cross Shrine, 18 x 24 $700 Trumpet Angel #1 7" long cut out on wood dated 1994 #2472 $40 Trumpet Angel #2 7" long cut out on wood dated 1994 #2476 $40
