Rev. Albert Wagner: Miracle at Midnight
© Abe Frajndlich
Rev. Albert Wagner (1924–2006) was a self-taught artist, preacher, and visionary whose art grew out of a powerful spiritual experience. Born in rural Arkansas to a family of sharecroppers, Wagner left school at a young age and later moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked different labor jobs while raising his family. He never had formal art training and did not begin making art seriously until he was fifty years old. In 1974, while painting his house, Wagner began seeing faces and figures in the marks left by paint cans. He believed these images were messages from God, and that moment inspired him to devote his life to creating art.
Over the next thirty years, Wagner filled his home with thousands of paintings, sculptures, and handmade objects. His work often featured angels, musicians, couples, animals, and biblical scenes painted in bright colors and bold shapes. Alongside his art practice, Wagner became a Pentecostal minister and founded the People Love People House of God in the basement of his East Cleveland home. For Wagner, art and faith were deeply connected, and he saw creativity as part of his spiritual mission. By the time of his death in 2006, his home had become a complete artistic environment and his work was recognized as an important contribution to American self-taught and outsider art.
© Herbert Ascherman Jr., c. 2001
Exhibition Specifications:
Number of works:
- 17 Paintings in a range of sizes—the largest at 4' x 4' and the smallest at 8" x 4".
- 1 sculpture 70” H × 48” W × 14” D.
Size of Exhibition:
- Up to 1200 Square ft. is recommended.
- The exhibition can be tailored to meet the specific requirements of your gallery.
Shipping & Insurance
- The borrower is responsible for all shipping arrangements and costs. A list of cost-effective shipping partners can be provided upon request.
- x1 C-Bin 60" L x 25" W x 28" L
- x1 sculpture in cardboard box 70" x 48" x 14" in
© Herbert Ascherman Jr., c. 2001
Loan Duration:
- 8-24 weeks.
- Exhibition loan durations are customizable to best suit your institution’s timeline.
Labels & Didactics:
- Venues responsibility to create and print labels and didactic info.
Security
- Moderate security required.
Hardware
- Detailed installation instructions, and special hardware travels with the exhibition.
Credit Line:
- Courtesy of travelingartexhibitions.com
Availability:
- January 2026 onward
Fees:
- Price available upon request
Exhibition Paintings & Sculpture: Select image to enlarge.
Documentary
Film Overview
Salvation and art have always been connected, but rarely with the power that the Reverend Albert Wagner brings. Working from his home on Lakefront Ave. in East Cleveland, Wagner is a recognized force in “outsider art” and a potent preacher of God's Word. Never educated as an artist, Wagner, at a low point in his life, heard the voice of God and began painting for his own redemption. His provocative and striking paintings, which feature prominently and powerfully throughout the film, deal directly with the past and present struggles of the African American community. Segregation and slavery get as much attention as alcohol and sex, the latter having been Wagner's dual demons. In addition to his art, Wagner leads The People Love People House of God, his unique brand of Christianity, which echoes the passionate message of his paintings. Filmed while Wagner was ailing and in his eighties, this documentary allows him to narrate his own distinctive life and includes commentary from his family, art collectors, and art historians. Set in Cleveland, ONE BAD CAT, brings a passionate man and his remarkable art to the screen. – JBH
Watch One Bad Cat: The Reverend Albert Wagner Story 2008, 1h 21m
“All my life I wanted to paint. I just didn’t know how. God gives directions and you have to follow.
– Rev. Albert Wagner
