27 monstrous paintings from which it is impossible to take your eyes off
The Museum of Bad Art (MOBA) has been operating in Massachusetts for more than 20 years, where paintings "too bad to ignore" are collected. In 1993, antiquarian Scott Wilson found a picture among the garbage that was so badly drawn that it fascinated him. Wilson showed it to his friends, who laughed with him and suggested that Scott collect a whole collection of the same creepy art objects. In March 1994, Jerry Reilly and his wife Maria Jackson hosted a reception at the house — the "Opening of the Museum of Bad Art".
The founders of the museum say that they do not ridicule the authors of the works, but respect their sincere efforts: "We do this to celebrate the artist's right to fail."
(27 photos in total)
"The lion." Anonymously. 40×50 centimeters, acrylic, canvas. Found in an antique store in Mena, Arkansas. July 2016.
One of the museum's founders, Jerry Reilly, said in 1995: "Every city in the world has at least one museum dedicated to the best works of art. MOBA is the only museum dedicated to collecting and exhibiting the worst."
"Charlie and Sheba", a painting by an anonymous author. 45×60 centimeters, oil on canvas.
Although the museum's motto is "Art is too bad to be ignored," paintings are strictly selected before entering the collection. According to Maria Jackson, nine-tenths of his works will not pass, because they are not bad enough. To get into the collection, the works must be original and created with serious intentions, and not for a joke and not for the sake of getting into the museum exposition. Curators don't need intentional kitsch. At the same time, the paintings must have significant drawbacks and cannot be boring. Also, the museum does not collect art objects created by children, at a factory or specifically for tourists.
"Dreams of a shorn hedgehog", Leonardo, 1977. 25×22 centimeters, oil, artboard.
In the first days of the museum's work, several unusual exhibitions took place in it: in one case, the works were hung on trees in the forest, in another — they were covered with a heat-shrinkable moisture-proof film. So it was possible to observe the work "from the car and the car wash". In 2001, the exhibition "Naked Bucks — nothing but Nude" was held: nude portraits from the museum's collection were exhibited in local spas.
"Windy Day," by Bob Roots. The author writes: "I really liked how the shed came out. But when I started drawing people and animals, I realized that I had a big problem with proportions."
"Lucy in a field with flowers", the author is unknown. 76×60 centimeters, oil on canvas.
The very picture with which the history of the museum began and to which the attention of the media and patrons is still riveted. She found the name right away: This is an allusion to The Beatles song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds". One of the magazine critics describes her as follows: "An elderly woman dancing in a lush field in spring, whose sagging breasts are freely flapping; she inexplicably leans with one hand on a red chair on which she is sitting, and in the other holds a bouquet of daisies." Another characteristic is simpler and more direct — "an old woman with a chair glued to her ass."
"Lucy" was written with a real—life woman, Anna Lally Keen (years of life - 1890-1968). When her granddaughter, Boston nurse Susan Lawlor, saw the portrait in the newspaper and recognized her grandmother in it, she snorted "Coca-Cola" from her nose out of shock. The painting hung in her aunt's house for many years, although relatives, and Susan herself, did not like the portrait: "The face is definitely hers, but everything else is terrible. It seems that she has only one breast, and it's unclear what's wrong with her arms and legs, and these flowers, and this yellow sky..."
"George on a chamber pot on a Sunday afternoon", John Gedraitis. 93×55 centimeters, acrylic on canvas.
The Boston Globe journalist Bella English called this picture a work that "will absolutely make you laugh." Artist Amy Levine saw in it a parody of Georges Seurat's painting "Sunday Afternoon on the island of Grand Jatt": it is also known as "Sunday in the Park with George". The subject of this painting was supposedly John Ashcroft, the former US Attorney General.
This work cannot be called technically bad, so the lack of artistic skill is not an obligatory criterion for new exhibits. Scott Wilson says that accepting a work of art in MOVA is a "celebration of the artist's enthusiasm."
"Gina's Demons", by Gina. 70×50 centimeters, oil on canvas.
"The Yellow-blue Prince", Franny, 1991. 45×60 centimeters, oil on canvas. The museum annotation says: "The Prince is depicted both full-face and in profile. Franny didn't spare the paint, and the painting looks like it was painted by Van Gogh under LSD."
"Palm Trees", Comel Romero Cabrera. 30×25 centimeters, acrylic, canvas.
"Freedom and Justice", a painting by an anonymous author. 60×60 centimeters, acrylic, canvas.
In 1996, R. Angelo Lee's painting "Eileen" disappeared from the museum. The museum promised $ 6.5 to the one who would return it, and then even increased the remuneration to $ 36.73, but the work was not returned for many years.
After the theft, fake video cameras were installed in the museum with the caption: "Attention! This gallery is protected by fake video cameras." It didn't help: in 2004, a self-portrait of Rebecca Harris was stolen. In place of the painting, a note appeared on the wall demanding a ransom of $ 10 — however, the thief forgot to enter his contact information. Soon the painting was returned along with $10. Curator Michael Frank suggested that it was difficult for the thief to keep her, because "reputable institutions refuse to negotiate with criminals."
"Blue Tango", a painting by an anonymous author. 60×53 centimeters, acrylic, canvas. The curators of the museum recalled the works of Auguste Renoir "Dance in the Boujivale", "Dance in the village" and "Dance in the city".
"Blue God", a painting by an anonymous author. 76×90 centimeters, acrylic on canvas. One of the newest works in the collection: it was presented to the museum in March 2016.
"Scabies." 70×55 centimeters, oil on canvas.
"Ronan the Pug," Erin Rotgeb. 45×60 centimeters, acrylic, canvas. The annotation says: "Ronan is barely able to keep his head straight: he drank all the eggnog at a holiday party."
"New Year's Donut," by Marie Newman. 50×40 centimeters, mixed media (collage, markers, paper). The work was presented to the museum by the artist herself.
"Pink Woman at Dawn", the work of an anonymous author, created under the influence of Van Gogh's paintings. 60×45 centimeters, oil on canvas.
The work of Tom Euler. 40×45 centimeters, acrylic, canvas.
"Pablo Presley," the work of Bonnie Daly. 50×27 centimeters, acrylic, paper.
"The Mantis who received the answer", the work of an anonymous author. 60×120 centimeters, acrylic, canvas. The painting was found among the garbage in the California city of Berkeley.
"Easter Island", the author is signed illegibly. 60×75 centimeters, oil on canvas.
"In the cat's mouth." 60×50 centimeters, acrylic, canvas. The founder of the museum bought this work in a Boston charity shop.
"Just a flesh wound", Lance D. 35×25 centimeters, oil on canvas.
"Lady in big pants", a painting by an anonymous author. 120×160 centimeters, oil on canvas. Judging by the pose of the model, the author was inspired by Goya's painting "Mach Nude".
"Nude and three chicks." The chief curator of the museum found this painting in the lobby of a hotel in Nice.
"He was my friend", Jack Owen. 60×45 centimeters, watercolor, paper.
"Female fertility". A painting by an anonymous author. 66×90 centimeters, oil on canvas.
Keywords: Boston | Painting | Art | Paintings | Absurdity | Drawings | USA