The Museum of Bad Art (MOBA)

[Savonarola]

The last time I was at the DIA I saw a book with the collection of The Museum of Bad Art:

http://www.museumofbadart.org/

Unfortunately it's in Sommerville, MA, so I won't be able to visit anytime soon; but thanks to the miracle of the internet we can view their collection on line:



Mama and Babe by Sarah Irani



Madonna with a smile by unknown.



The Athlete by Unknown


Two Trees in Love by Julie Seelig



Inspiration by Unknown.

The site contains further description of the work; but, like most art writing, it really doesn't add anything to the work.  These works can stand on their own.

[Valmy]

Ok that site is just too hilarious to be true.

The interplay between Sharpie and religion 

[Caliga]

I actually like the first painting.  It appears to have been painted by a lunatic, so it's interesting.... it's for the same reason that people are interested in those bizarre cat paintings that British guy did in the 1940s.

[The Brain]

  I can do worse than that.

[Pedrito]

The Haircut
Sculpture with barber's chair, scissors, dental floss, and a piece of the curator's cat, by M. Jackson and J. Reilly
74"x28"40"
By special commission for MOBA opening

Mining the swirling currents between violence and personal hygiene, this piece captures the fear, the horror, and the hope intrinsic in that most mundane of human activities.

  WTF that site is dangerous!
Although some of the acclaimed contemporary artists are only slightly better than these unknowns. Or, simply they have better gallerists.

L.

[saskganesh]

The site contains further description of the work; but, like most art writing, it really doesn't add anything to the work.  These works can stand on their own.

disagree. the commentary is sly and satirical.

e.g:

Circus of Despair
Oil on canvas by Unknown
18"x24"
Acquired by Scott Wilson from trash in Boston

This joyous, frightful circus romp is emblematic of, and yet somehow transcends, Unknown's entire body of work.

and

UNSEEN FORCES #11
More
Acrylic on canvas by Sandy Winslow
16"x20"
Acquired by Scott Wilson from trash

All the better to see you with, my dear.


Additional Information
A selection of four of Mr. Winslows were exhibited as part of MOBA's "I Just Can't Stop Exhibition" at the Permanent Gallery in Dedham, MA.

A friend of Mr. Winslow spotted the painting and informed the artist that he was featured at the MOBA gallery. Mr. Winslow called the MOBA office last month to tell us that he had far worse at his studio. Mr. Wilson, our Esteemed Curator, visited Winslow's studio and concurred with his judgement.

and

UNSEEN FORCES #12
Think Again
Acrylic on canvas by Unknown
Acquired by Scott Wilson from trash

This disturbing work "makes an offer you can't refuse". The chilling, matter-of-fact manner in which the subject presents the severed head to us is a poignant reminder of just how numb we have become. The understated violence implicit in the scene speaks volumes on our own desensitization, our society's reflexive use of force, and the artist's inability to deal with the hindquarters of the animal.[/]

[saskganesh]

I can do worse than that.

I doubt it. they are looking for special works that transcend mere incompetency.

[Malthus]

Jerez the Clown looks to me like intentional badness:

http://www.museumofbadart.org/collection/portraiture-11.html

[Caliga]

I dunno... I think it's common for art students to draw clowns, or at least it seems to be in my experience.

[Malthus]

I dunno... I think it's common for art students to draw clowns, or at least it seems to be in my experience.

Clowns, yes.

Clowns that are evidently planning your dismemberment, no. 

[Habsburg]

They must have large collections of Warhol, Dali, and Lichtenstein!

[garbon]

I'm glad you didn't say Mondrain.

[grumbler]

I'm glad you didn't say Mondrain.

Mondrain doesn't qualify.  Something has to be "art" before it can be "bad art."

[jimmy olsen]

Dali

Heretic

[Syt]

They must have large collections of Warhol, Dali, and Lichtenstein!