10 Folk Art Communities and Outsider Art Destinations Across the US

2. Pasaquan - Buena Vista, Georgia

In the rural community of Buena Vista, Georgia, stands Pasaquan, a seven-acre compound that represents one of the most significant examples of visionary art environments in the American South. Created by Eddie Owens Martin, who adopted the persona of St. EOM, this extraordinary site features brightly colored totemic structures, intricate murals, and architectural elements that blend influences from ancient civilizations, Native American cultures, and Martin's own mystical visions. Martin began creating Pasaquan in the 1950s after claiming to have received visions from spirits who instructed him to build a temple dedicated to his invented religion of Pasaquan. The site features six major structures, including temples, walls, and sculptural installations, all adorned with Martin's distinctive geometric patterns and vibrant color palette of turquoise, orange, yellow, and pink. After years of neglect following Martin's death in 1986, Pasaquan underwent extensive restoration and reopened to the public in 2016, allowing visitors to experience this unique fusion of folk art, architecture, and spiritual expression. The site now serves as a powerful example of how outsider artists can create entire worlds that challenge conventional notions of art, religion, and community, offering visitors an immersive experience in one man's extraordinary vision.