Original Mark Kostabi & Howard Finster Signed "All Time that was and Will Be" 66x71. Original Acrylic Painting on Canvas. In 1992, Brian Rej of New York City and Erik Rej of Columbia, SC commissioned these two artists to collaborate together on a single 5 1/2’ x 5 1/2’ canvas. There are only 10 of these collaborations in existence. The Rej brothers coined these to be known as “Finstabi's”. In some cases, Howard would paint his image on a blank canvas then Mark would interpret Howards work and complete the painting adding his work. In other cases, Mark would complete an entire painting then Howard would interpret Marks work and add work to the completed Kostabi. The “Finstabis” made their world premier at the “NOT OF THIS WORLD”-from the Rej collection exhibition at the Columbia, SC Columbia Museum of art in November of 1992. The Rej brothers brought Keith Haring to paradise garden to meet Howard Finster. They were planning to put together a Haring / Finster collaboration, but unfortunately The untimely passing of Haring 2 months later prevented this collaboration. Canvas includes a wooden stretcher, provided by Kostabi World (Mark KostabiÂ’s NYC studio). Each of the four wooden stretcher sides contain the title of the completed work, handwritten in black sharpie by Mark. PROVENANCE: The Rej Brothers Collection. Artists: HOWARD FINSTER: (1916-2001) 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. MARK KOSTABI: (b. 1960) A world-famous artist as well as an accomplished composer, Mark Kostabi is nearly synonymous with the New York art scene. Having made his debut in 1982, Kostabi soon became a leading figure of the wild and heady East Village art scene - surrounded by the likes of Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and others. Among many other notable commissions, Kostabi did the artwork for Guns n' Roses "Use Your Illusion" and the Ramones' "Adios Amigos" albums. Recently, Kostabi was recognized by Pope Benedict XVI who officially blessed his bronze statue of Pope John Paul II at its inauguration in Rome. An always-prolific and dynamic artist as well as public figure, Kostabi divides his time between New York and Rome.

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