Paradise Garden Foundation

Renowned folk artist Howard Finster assembled Paradise Garden, an art environment near the northwest Georgia town of Summerville, which became his greatest creation and most important legacy. Starting at age 59, he also painted more than 46,000 colorful works of art filled with historical figures and pop icons. Finster earned national fame when rock band R.E.M. filmed its Radio Free Europe video in Paradise Garden, and he later won Rolling Stone magazine's album cover of the year for Talking Heads' Little Creatures. The Irish rock band, U2, used Howard Finster's art images for their stage backdrop and concert materials on their 1997/98 worldwide PopMart Tour. Finster's sacred art is in the permanent collections of museums including the Smithsonian and High Museum of Art and was included in prestigious exhibitions such as the 1984 Venice Biennale and at the Library of Congress. The irrepressible artist was a guest on The Tonight Show Staring Johnny Carson, and his rise was chronicled in publications including Esquire, the Wall Street Journal, Interview Magazine, Life Magazine and countless art journals worldwide. Listed on the National Register for Historic Places, Paradise Garden welcomes more than 9,000 U.S. and international visitors annually with eye catching folk art sculpture, beautiful mosaic sidewalks, and inspiring art structures such a the World's Folk Art Church. Plan a day trip to Paradise Garden or reserve an overnight stay in one of our three Airbnb's soon!