“An Irresistible Urge to Create” at the Mennello

Posted on by The Wandering Art Historian

Outsider artists. Neo Folk Artists. Untrained artists. Naïve or self-taught artists.

While art historians and scholars continue to debate how to label these creators, The Mennello Museum of American Art in Orlando, FL is currently exhibiting a wonderful collection of work by folks who never considered themselves artists in the first place.

One will quickly note that all manner of media is utilized and no topic is off limits. Viewers will recognize themes like poverty, disillusionment, mental health issues, death, life, love, religion and the state of society at any given moment depicted on mirrors, wall paper sample books, tree branches and even carved into styrofoam. All that is in addition to the paintings, collages and illustrations executed on everything from paper grocery bags to planks of wood.

I hate to label any of the artists as the singular star of the exhibition, but I must admit that I was personally taken with the work of artist George Voronovsky (1903 – 1982). Born in Ukraine, but living in South Beach, Voronovsky’s work accomplished the incredible and surprising feat of exhibiting facets of two wildly diverse cultures in a way that is both harmonious and somewhat magical. In fact, his work takes on a fantastical quality when traditional Ukrainian folk art is depicted with the bright oranges and highlighter pinks of 1980’s Miami.

This exhibition is a really lovely survey of the movement and it acts as a wonderful introduction to a group of artists who never considered the possibility of fame or riches. They were simply driven by “an irresistible urge to create.”

For additional information on this exhibition, please visit..

An Irresistible Urge to Create

2 thoughts on ““An Irresistible Urge to Create” at the Mennello”

  1. I look forward to seeing this exhibit. Sounds like a wonderful followup to the Eddie Mumma exhibit, which we loved. Thanks for the recommendation Adrienne.

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    1. You are absolutely RIGHT – it is a really wonderful follow-up to the Eddy Mumma exhibit. The OMA has replaced their “Basquiats” w/ Purvis Youngs, so you may want to check it out. I’ll be sharing a blog post about it in the coming weeks.

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I am writer and artist with a degree in art history who loves to talk to people about art. I have spent the last seven years building up The Wandering Art Historian “brand” as a way to connect with people who want to learn more about art. I give lectures and presentations and teach classes and host book club discussions with a creative or artistic connection. I also write about local artists, events, museums, and exhibitions to promote the arts in Central Florida. In 2021, I had a creative crisis. I struggled with authenticity in the art making process. I decided to make myself vulnerable and find out what a real, genuine Adrienne H. Lee artwork would look like. The process was challenging and emotional and revelatory. I learned that if necessity is the mother of invention, then authenticity is the mother of reinvention. I reinvented myself and learned an entirely new medium. The resulting artwork surprised me, and it will surprise you, too. Some people wish for a fairytale ending. For me, the fairy tale is only the beginning.