A permanent gallery dedicated to J.O.J. Frost's artwork and sculpture, as well as an education and lecture space.
170 Washington Street, Marblehead, MA 01945
Admission by donation.
March through April: Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 am- 4:00 pm
May through December 23rd: Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 am- 4:00 pm (closed Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving weekend)
Unfortunately, the Museum is not currently wheelchair accessible.
Research and Archives by appointment only.
J.O.J. Frost (1852-1928)
John Orne Johnson Frost’s post-Civil War boyhood memories of Marblehead and experiences aboard fishing schooners on the Grand Banks are the focus of his work. J.O.J. Frost began painting at age 70, untrained but driven by a sense of history that he expressed visually. He considered himself a historian rather than an artist. Frost used materials he had on hand, house paint, wall board, and odds and ends of wood scraps, to create his works. He had no understanding of perspective, no knowledge of anatomy, and no particular skill at drawing. What might be considered artistic failings, though, make his paintings unique. His art is more than charming and quaint as it details the daily life of Marbleheaders at home and at sea. Frost’s work is recognized as a significant part of American folk art, and is represented in major folk art collections.