Howard Finster
American · 1916–2001 · Painter, Printmaker
Howard Finster was an American artist and Baptist minister from Georgia. He claimed to be inspired by God to spread the gospel through the design of his swampy land into… (Wikipedia)
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1 work by Howard Finster with an auction history (offered more than once) →
Record prices
Birth of AmericaRago Auctions · $7,680≈ £5,779≈ €6,749Sign up to see
Howard Behind the Desk of Visions, Pastor of Silver Hill Baptist ChurchToomey & Co. · $7,560≈ £6,026≈ €7,037Sign up to see
UntitledRago Auctions · $7,500≈ £6,339≈ €6,927Sign up to see
Howard Finster’s highest prices recorded at auction, ranked in US dollars at each sale-date exchange rate and shown in the currency of the sale (with the buyer’s premium where the house publishes it).
ArtSell has recorded 80 auction results for Howard Finster between 2014 and 2026, of which 79 sold (99%). A further 20 lots were offered at auction without a published result. Recorded sale prices range from $225Sign up free to see to $7.7kSign up free to see. The highest price recorded is $7.7kSign up free to see for Birth of America at Rago Auctions in July 2026. The most common medium is drawings (21 lots). Most results come from Toomey & Co. (52), Concept Art Gallery (17) and Rago Auctions (6).
81 results · page 1 of 3
- The Big PushAfter the artist$128≈ £95≈ €111Sign up free to see
- Birth of America, 1985$7,680≈ £5,779≈ €6,749Sign up free to see
- Coca Cola, 1994$2,560≈ £1,936≈ €2,247Sign up free to see
- Shadowbox, 1984$1,463≈ £1,107≈ €1,284Sign up free to see
- Sold
- Sold
- Uncle Sam, 1991$1,131≈ £855≈ €993Sign up free to see
- Devil on Mountain, 1998$600≈ £448≈ €517Sign up free to see
- $1,100≈ £821≈ €948Sign up free to see
- $700≈ £531≈ €605Sign up free to see
Also offered, result not published (20)
Lots by Howard Finster that were offered at auction where the house did not publish whether they sold. Not counted in any statistics.
Howard Finster paintings (19)Howard Finster acrylic paintings (8)Howard Finster mixed media (5)Howard Finster works on paper (21)Howard Finster drawings (21)Howard Finster prints (3)
Howard Finster: quick facts
What is the highest price paid for a work by Howard Finster at auction?
$7,680Sign up free to see, for Birth of America at Rago Auctions (July 2026) — the highest price in ArtSell’s records.
What is a typical auction price for Howard Finster?
The median sale price is $1.1kSign up free to see across 74 priced sales. Prices vary by medium, size and date — see the price chart & statistics.
How many works by Howard Finster have sold at auction?
79 of 80 recorded lots sold between 2014 and 2026. 20 further lots were offered with no published result and are not counted.
Which auction houses sell Howard Finster?
Toomey & Co., Concept Art Gallery and Rago Auctions account for the most recorded results. Toomey & Co. · Concept Art Gallery · Rago Auctions
Howard Finster signature
31 catalogued lots by Howard Finster record a signature line. The most common placement is lower right (46% of lots that state a placement). Most often: signed.
Placement
Form
Signed twice lower right
— What You Do To Your Self You Do To Others For Somebody Loves You and Cares, Clarke Auction Gallery, Nov 9, 2025Signed lower right
— Do Something For Your Life It is Worth It Now, Clarke Auction Gallery, Nov 9, 2025Signed Howard Finster lower right margin silkscreen on paper 15 x 37
— Devil's Jungle, 1988, Olympia Auctions, Oct 12, 2025
About Howard Finster
Howard Finster was an American artist and Baptist minister from Georgia. He claimed to be inspired by God to spread the gospel through the design of his swampy land into Paradise Garden, a folk art sculpture garden with over 46,000 pieces of art. His creations include outsider art, naïve art, and visionary art. Finster came to widespread notice in the 1980s with his album cover designs for R.E.M. and Talking Heads.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.