The Museum of Bad Art

I've recently become obsessed with the Museum of Bad Art. Located in Massachusetts, the museum was founded in 1994 by antique dealer Scott Wilson after finding the now treasured painting Lucy in the Field with Flowers in a trash bin.

The Museum's motto is "Art too bad to be ignored", and new additions to the collection have to meet some pretty strict requirements. Museum curator Michael Frank defines their inclusion philosophy as follows: "We collect things made in earnest, where people attempted to make art and something went wrong, either in the execution or in the original premise".

In other words, poor children's drawings, or deliberate attempts at kitsch or camp are ineligible.

I'd like to highlight a few of my favourite pieces in this fantastic collection!

Lucy In the Field With Flowers
Oil on canvas by Unknown
24" x 30"
Acquired from trash in Boston

The painting found in the trash that started it all! The Mona Lisa of the MOBA collection!

The subject's granddaughter, Susan Lawlor, revealed the painting's origin to the museum (from the MOBA website):

Anna Lally Keane lived with her daughter Eileen (Ms. Lawlor's aunt) for much of her adult life. Anna Keane died in her 70's sometime around 1968. A year or two later, Ms Lawlor's mother dug out two photos of Anna Lally Keane and sent them to an artist, and commisioned a painting. The painting was to be a present to her sister Eileen.

Ms. Lawlor told us of the day that the painting arrived wrapped in paper. Everyone gathered around to watch as the paper was torn off, the thirteen year old Susan bit her lip to keep from gasping.

It was a wonderfully accurate likeness of her grandmother's face in an oddly postured and formed body against a bizarre, surreal background.

A "gorgeous mistake... an elderly woman dancing in a lush spring field, sagging breasts flopping willy-nilly, as she inexplicably seems to hold a red chair to her behind with one hand and a clutch of daisies in the other".
Kate Swoger, The Montreal Gazette

"...the old woman with an armchair glued to her ass".
Cash Peters, Travel Writer

Sunday on the Pot with George
Acrylic on canvas by Unknown
22" x 37"
Donated by Jim Schulman

"Can the swirling steam melt away the huge weight of George's corporate responsibilities? This pointillist piece is curious for meticulous attention to fine detail, such as the stitching around the edge of the towel, in contrast to the almost careless disregard for the subject's feet".
Michael Frank and Louise Reilly Sacco - The Museum of Bad Art - Masterworks

Ronan the Pug
Acrylic on Canvas Board by Erin Rothgeb
18" x 24"

"The artist's affection for her dog far outstrips her artistic skill. Paint is slapped on the canvas with random brushstrokes, creating matted, impossible fur. Done in such a hurry that canine anatomy was not even considered, the artist still captures Ronan's playful sweetness".
Michael Frank and Louise Reilly Sacco - The Museum of Bad Art - Masterworks

See Battle
"We don't need binoculars to predict which dreadnought will be victorious in this nautical fray. The MOBA curatorial staff has determined that the object below the ship at right is, in fact, a ladybug on the window just in front of the binoculars".
Michael Frank and Louise Reilly Sacco - The Museum of Bad Art - Masterworks

Currently playing: Heart - Alone
Currently colouring: A yet to be solicited project for Dark Horse Comics!
Proudly in my third Cola free year!