The Private Collection of Henry Darger

Where did acclaimed outsider artist Henry Darger draw inspiration for his dreamlike murals? A new exhibit reveals his personal art collection for the first time.

Courtesy of The American Folk Art Museum

galleries/2010/04/05/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger---untitled-two-girls-and-a-dog-sitting-in-garden_onsiko — Henry Darger (1892–1973) Chicago 1959 or later Watercolor, carbon tracing, pencil, and collage on paper, mounted on cardboard, with 1959 Christmas Seal stamps 11 x 15 in.
Courtesy of The American Folk Art Museum

galleries/2010/04/05/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger-14_wq9hn0 — exhibited double-sided Picture One. This scene here shows the murderous massacre still going on before the winged blengins arrived from the sky. They came so quick how however that those fastened to the trees, or board, and those on the run escaped the muderist rascals or were rescued, and flown to permanent safty and security. Henry Darger (1892ñ1973) Chicago Mid-twentieth century Watercolor, pencil, carbon tracing, and collage on pieced paper 31 x 131"
Gavin Ashworth / Gift of Sam and Betsey Farber / American Folk Art Museum

galleries/2010/04/05/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger-17_u4gyu5 — Henry Darger (1892ñ1973) Chicago Mid-twentieth century Watercolor, pencil, carbon tracing, and collage on pieced paper 22 x 96î
James Prinz / © Kiyoko Lerner / American Folk Art Museum

galleries/2010/04/05/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger-15_meby9h — exhibited double-sided Picture One. This scene here shows the murderous massacre still going on before the winged blengins arrived from the sky. They came so quick how however that those fastened to the trees, or board, and those on the run escaped the muderist rascals or were rescued, and flown to permanent safty and security. Henry Darger (1892ñ1973) Chicago Mid-twentieth century Watercolor, pencil, carbon tracing, and collage on pieced paper 31 x 131"
Gavin Ashworth / Gift of Sam and Betsey Farber / American Folk Art Museum

galleries/2010/04/05/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger-16_iltjtp — Henry Darger (1892-1973) Chicago Mid-twentieth century Watercolor, pencil, and carbon tracing on pieced paper 22 x 112 "
James Prinz / © Kiyoko Lerner / American Folk Art Museum

galleries/2010/04/05/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger---home_jkqy3i — Chicago c. 1970s Black-and-white photograph
Photographed by Nathan Lerner and David Berglund, Courtesy of The American Folk Art Museum

galleries/2010/04/05/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger---untitled-these-little-children_zwrfgn — Henry Darger (1892–1973) Chicago Mid-20th century Hand-tinted photograph and ink on cardboard 7 x 9 in.
Courtesy of The American Folk Museum

galleries/2010/04/05/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger---untitled-in-times-like-these_sjehrc — Henry Darger (1892–1973) Chicago Mid-20th century Crayon, coloring book page, and collage on Kodak board 14 x 20 in.
Courtesy of The American Folk Museum

galleries/2010/04/05/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger---untitled-religious-collage-with-madonna-and-child_qbb8z0 — Henry Darger (1892–1973) Chicago Mid-20th century Watercolor, collage, and pencil on cardboard 15 x 12 1/2 in.
Courtesy of The American Folk Museum

galleries/2010/04/05/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger---untitled-child-with-glass-of-milk_lystoy — Henry Darger (1892–1973) Chicago 1958 or later Collage, pencil and 1955 and 1958 Christmas Seal stamps on Kodak board with medical tape 10 1/4 x 8 1/4 in.
Courtesy of The American Folk Museum

galleries/2010/04/05/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger---untitled-extension_exeowy — Henry Darger (1892–1973) Chicago 1955 or later Collage and 1955 Christmas Seal stamps on cardboard with wax paper and medical tape 15 x 11 1/2 in.
Courtesy of The American Folk Museum

galleries/2010/04/05/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger---untitled-boys-and-man-twice_qvkvkn — Henry Darger (1892–1973) Chicago Mid-20th century Collage on corrugated cardboard with wax paper remnant and medical tape 15 x 11 in.
Courtesy of The American Folk Museum

galleries/2010/04/05/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger-13_pqqllj — Henry Darger (1892-1973) Chicago 1959 or later Collage, pencil, and 1959 Christmas Seal stamps on cardboard 13 x 9 " American Folk Art Museum Gift of Kiyoko Lerner, 2003.7.240
Gavin Ashworth / © Kiyoko Lerner

galleries/2010/04/05/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger-12_ksk9tp — Henry Darger (1892-1973) Chicago 1956 or later Watercolor, coloring book page, and 1953, 1955, and 1956 Christmas Seal stamps on Kodak board 14 1/4 x 11 1/4" American Folk Art Museum Gift of Kiyoko Lerner, 2003.7.12
Gift of Kiyoko Lerner / American Folk Art Museum

galleries/2010/04/05/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger-11_jmrnmp — Henry Darger (1892ñ1973) Chicago 1956 or later Collage and 1956 Christmas Seal stamps on cardboard 11 1/4 x 14 1/4"
Gift of Kiyoko Lerner / American Folk Art Museum

galleries/2010/04/05/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger---untitled-portrait-of-girl-by-c-max_jpgov9 — Henry Darger (1892–1973) Chicago Mid-20th century Collage on corrugated cardboard 20 1/4 x 15 1/4 in.
Courtesy of The American Folk Museum

galleries/2010/04/05/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger/the-private-collection-of-henry-darger---untitled-little-girl-with-rolling-pin_tvzedq — Artist unidentified United States Mid-20th century Found color illustration with plastic and string 13 1/2 x 10 in.
Courtesy of The American Folk Museum

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