Movement Outsider Art

The term 'Outsider Art' was coined by Professor Roger Cardinal in 1972, who wanted an English term for “Art Brut," a French term literally meaning “raw art." This movement was initially named by French artist, Jean Dubuffet, who sought to describe a genre of art that explored polarised mental states, unorthodox ideas and illusions. Outsider art incorporates works created by artists without formal training, and who reject traditional artistic techniques. It is also heavily associated with children, mentally troubled artists who suffer with psychiatric disorders, socially reclusive individuals and misfits. 


Jean Dubuffet was inspired by Prinzhorn's 1921 book Bildnerei de Geisteskranken (Artistry of the Mentally ill) which included thousands of artworks by mentally ill patients. This influenced Dubuffet to collect his own selection of mentally ill-inspired art, and unlike Prinhorn's book, Dubuffet's selection also included works by social hermits and outsiders; celebrating the individuals forgotten by society. 


The surge in interest for Outsider Art grew from an increasing resentment towards the art world and extreme political ideologies. Artists during this period experienced and watched the atrocity caused by the World Wars, where false promises for a “better" quality of life shrouded these years. Additionally, basic human rights were widely disregarded during the war years, with barbaric and catastrophic philosophies such as Eugenics coming into practice. Artists sought to redefine and celebrate the individuals otherwise disregarded by society, honouring their supposed flaws and differences. The Outsider artists created a new way of seeing the humans failed by the war years. 


There isn't a particular style associated with Outsider art,  other than often fantastical depictions created by artists without formal training. In addition to this, artists do not usually refer to themselves as “Outsider Artists," it is a label usually given to the artist posthumously.  


In contemporary art, Outsider art continues to be explored today with festivals like The Outsider Art Fair which is dedicated to the movement. The Outsider Art Fair is an international exhibition that features artists associated with Outsider Art, and occurs in New York and Paris each year. 


Adolf Wölfli:  (1864–1930), Swiss artist Wölfi, spent a large proportion of his adult life in a psychiatric hospital. It was during his institutionalisation that he created most of his drawings and musical compositions.  


Jean Philippe Arthur Dubuffet: (1901 –1985) French painter and sculptor, Dubuffet founded the Outsider Art movement and embraced unconventional aesthetics and “low" art. 


Scottie Wilson: (1888 – 1972), known for his intricately detailed works, Wilson is considered the spearhead of the Outsider Art movement during the 20th century. His works were collected by both Jean Dubuffet and Pablo Picasso.  


Auguste Forestier: French sculptor and artist, Forestier was also confined to a psychiatric hospital for a number of years.  


Celebrate the misfits marginalised by society, with their works that evoke a wonder only found in childhood. Explore our Outsider Art-inspired artists on Artsper now, through the works of  Hector Peper, Jazzu and Joi Murugavell.

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Fine Art Drawings, The Groove, Tarek

The Groove

Tarek

Fine Art Drawings - 44 x 28 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.3 x 11 x 0 inch

$834

Painting, Sans prise de tête, Jazzu

Sans prise de tête

Jazzu

Painting - 150 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 59.1 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

$2,265

Print, Barb IV, Joan Miró

Barb IV

Joan Miró

Print - 66.5 x 50.5 x 0.5 cm Print - 26.2 x 19.9 x 0.2 inch

$4,290

Print, Figure ocre, Wifredo Lam

Figure ocre

Wifredo Lam

Print - 76 x 56.5 x 0.2 cm Print - 29.9 x 22.2 x 0.1 inch

$954

Painting, Feu orange, Jéko

Feu orange

Jéko

Painting - 75 x 55 x 0.2 cm Painting - 29.5 x 21.7 x 0.1 inch

$1,788

Painting, Strong, cObo

Strong

cObo

Painting - 30.5 x 22.9 x 2.5 cm Painting - 12 x 9 x 1 inch

$656

Painting, Tired, cObo

Tired

cObo

Painting - 30.5 x 22.9 x 2.5 cm Painting - 12 x 9 x 1 inch

$656

Painting, Angel Paris, cObo

Angel Paris

cObo

Painting - 30.5 x 22.9 x 2.5 cm Painting - 12 x 9 x 1 inch

$656

Painting, Une route simple, Jazzu

Une route simple

Jazzu

Painting - 100 x 50 x 1 cm Painting - 39.4 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

$2,146

Painting, Brut II, Jazzu

Brut II

Jazzu

Painting - 29.7 x 21 cm Painting - 11.7 x 8.3 inch

$417

Painting, Brazil, Jaber El Mahjoub

Brazil

Jaber El Mahjoub

Painting - 98 x 94 x 0.5 cm Painting - 38.6 x 37 x 0.2 inch

$1,788

Painting, Monde, Jaber El Mahjoub

Monde

Jaber El Mahjoub

Painting - 71 x 55 x 0.5 cm Painting - 28 x 21.7 x 0.2 inch

$1,431

Fine Art Drawings, Afrique, Tarek

Afrique

Tarek

Fine Art Drawings - 37.5 x 46.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14.8 x 18.4 x 0 inch

$1,013

Print, Personajes, Joan Ponç

Personajes

Joan Ponç

Print - 70 x 100 x 0.1 cm Print - 27.6 x 39.4 x 0 inch

$715

Painting, Totemik, Tarek

Totemik

Tarek

Painting - 54 x 73 x 2 cm Painting - 21.3 x 28.7 x 0.8 inch

$2,503

Painting, L'ombre des arbres, Jéko

L'ombre des arbres

Jéko

Painting - 65 x 50 x 0.2 cm Painting - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

$1,431

Print, Abierta 7, Antonio Saura

Abierta 7

Antonio Saura

Print - 75 x 104 x 0.1 cm Print - 29.5 x 40.9 x 0 inch

$2,623

Print, Abierta 6, Antonio Saura

Abierta 6

Antonio Saura

Print - 75 x 104 x 0.1 cm Print - 29.5 x 40.9 x 0 inch

$2,623

Print, Abierta 4, Antonio Saura

Abierta 4

Antonio Saura

Print - 75 x 104 x 0.1 cm Print - 29.5 x 40.9 x 0 inch

$2,980

Fine Art Drawings, Belgique, Tarek

Belgique

Tarek

Fine Art Drawings - 46.7 x 37.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18.4 x 14.8 x 0 inch

$1,013

Sculpture, J'ai tant souffert, Ben

J'ai tant souffert

Ben

Sculpture - 30 x 40 x 20 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 15.7 x 7.9 inch

$10,729 $8,583

Painting, Happy potes bonheur, MAM

Happy potes bonheur

MAM

Painting - 80 x 80 x 2.5 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1 inch

$2,265

Fine Art Drawings, Bochapo, Jéko

Bochapo

Jéko

Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 21 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

$715

Painting, I come back, Walter Sené

I come back

Walter Sené

Painting - 100 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

$954

Sculpture, On s'aime tant, Raâk

On s'aime tant

Raâk

Sculpture - 36 x 15 x 9 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 5.9 x 3.5 inch

$1,907

Painting, Putain ça brille, Jéko

Putain ça brille

Jéko

Painting - 65 x 50 x 0.2 cm Painting - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

$1,431

Print, Personage, Wifredo Lam

Personage

Wifredo Lam

Print - 26 x 19 x 0.1 cm Print - 10.2 x 7.5 x 0 inch

$715

Fine Art Drawings, Etude, Franciszek Starowieyski

Etude

Franciszek Starowieyski

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

$715

Painting, Le chaman, Julien Cuny

Le chaman

Julien Cuny

Painting - 100 x 70 cm Painting - 39.4 x 27.6 inch

$656

Painting, Coco, Stéphane Foucaud

Coco

Stéphane Foucaud

Painting - 99.5 x 80 x 4 cm Painting - 39.2 x 31.5 x 1.6 inch

$1,818

Painting, Série brut, Jazzu

Série brut

Jazzu

Painting - 42 x 29 x 1 cm Painting - 16.5 x 11.4 x 0.4 inch

$536

Painting, Série brut, Jazzu

Série brut

Jazzu

Painting - 42 x 29 x 1 cm Painting - 16.5 x 11.4 x 0.4 inch

$536

Fine Art Drawings, Personal Orb, Michael Grine

Personal Orb

Michael Grine

Fine Art Drawings - 61 x 45.7 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 18 x 0.1 inch

$1,000

Painting, Fleur de cactus, Jéko

Fleur de cactus

Jéko

Painting - 65 x 50 x 0.2 cm Painting - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

$1,431

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