Art, Nature, and Intertwangleism

Storytelling, sarcasm and wit with a distinctly Southern flavor are hallmarks of the work of Butch Anthony, a contemporary, self-taught artist, maker, and collector of objects and antiques who hails from Seale, Ala. An exhibition of his work, Butch Anthony: Art, Nature, and Intertwangleism, was in the Haley Gallery of the Albany Museum of Art from March 4 – July 31, 2021.

A native of Pensacola, Fla., Anthony (b. 1963) grew up on his family’s 80-acre property in Seale, where he lives and works today in his hand-built home. He is the creator of internationally recognized attractions, including the Museum of Wonder, The World’s First Drive Thru Museum, and The Possum Trot, where his artwork, which tells stories of American life in his unique voice, is displayed and sold.

Anthony created a particular genre of art that he dubbed “Intertwangleism” in the early 1990s, utilizing various media and techniques to craft unique masterpieces. He is influenced in no small measure by his time at Auburn University, where his studies in zoology, geology and biology later manifested in his use of veins and bones in his artwork.

Storytelling, sarcasm and wit with a distinctly Southern flavor are hallmarks of the work of Butch Anthony, a contemporary, self-taught artist, maker, and collector of objects and antiques who hails from Seale, Ala. An exhibition of his work, Butch Anthony: Art, Nature, and Intertwangleism, is in the Haley Gallery of the Albany Museum of Art from March 4 – July 31, 2021.

A native of Pensacola, Fla., Anthony (b. 1963) grew up on his family’s 80-acre property in Seale, where he lives and works today in his hand-built home. He is the creator of internationally recognized attractions, including the Museum of Wonder, The World’s First Drive Thru Museum, and The Possum Trot, where his artwork, which tells stories of American life in his unique voice, is displayed and sold.

Anthony created a particular genre of art that he dubbed “Intertwangleism” in the early 1990s, utilizing various media and techniques to craft unique masterpieces. He is influenced in no small measure by his time at Auburn University, where his studies in zoology, geology and biology later manifested in his use of veins and bones in his artwork.

He has exhibited a keen eye for assembling seemingly disparate objects and art into one-of-a-kind artworks, combining his interest in fine art and design with his collecting of objects found in nature, such as bones, insects, shells and other artifacts. The materials used provide physical and conceptual layers to his artwork, showcasing the important influence of his upbringing and natural environment in creating a body of work deserving of its place in American art history.

The foundation of Anthony’s work is an exploration of materials, including found and recycled objects as his primary media. He utilizes several techniques in his work, including painting, mixed-media collage, large-scale sculpture and embroidery. He explores themes of identity and illustrates stories he has collected in journals for decades. Anthony’s practice includes painting skeletons on top of antique portraits that he finds in antique stores or yard sales. He tells unique tales and folklore in his Wall of Intertwangles by illustrating the stories and sayings he overhears from locals and travelers alike.

​Anthony’s original designs and compositions are acclaimed both regionally and internationally. His work has been featured in solo, group, and juried exhibitions across the United States and abroad in venues such as the Akron Museum of Art, Akron, Ohio; the Wiregrass Museum of Art, Dothan, Ala.; Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, Charleston, S.C., and the Black Rat Project, London, England. He has been featured on the TV series American Pickers and his work in publications including The New York Times, Garden and Gun, and Hyperallergic. Anthony was included in Alabama Creates: 200 Years of Art and Artists, a book which showcases master artists from the state.