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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, Sans titre, Kuffjca Cozma

Sans titre

Kuffjca Cozma

Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 50 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 19.7 inch

$1,872

Fine Art Drawings, Konco Dolanan, Imam Sucahyo

Konco Dolanan

Imam Sucahyo

Fine Art Drawings - 35 x 19.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.8 x 7.7 inch

$1,638

Painting, punk angel, Snach-ka

punk angel

Snach-ka

Painting - 180 x 140 x 4.5 cm Painting - 70.9 x 55.1 x 1.8 inch

$8,775

Painting, Sans Titre, Corneille

Sans Titre

Corneille

Painting - 127 x 121 x 12 cm Painting - 50 x 47.6 x 4.7 inch

$9,828

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Mahmoodkhan

Untitled

Mahmoodkhan

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 70 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 27.6 inch

$1,872

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Mahmoodkhan

Untitled

Mahmoodkhan

Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 50 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 19.7 inch

$1,872

Sculpture, A table !, Martine Dégot

A table !

Martine Dégot

Sculpture - 75 x 60 x 7 cm Sculpture - 29.5 x 23.6 x 2.8 inch

$1,053

Painting, Promenade, Clemyart

Promenade

Clemyart

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

$1,930

Sculpture, Le bûcher, Flora Gueton

Le bûcher

Flora Gueton

Sculpture - 48 x 32 x 3.5 cm Sculpture - 18.9 x 12.6 x 1.4 inch

$948

Painting, human monckey, Snach-ka

human monckey

Snach-ka

Painting - 119 x 102 x 0.5 cm Painting - 46.9 x 40.2 x 0.2 inch

$4,680

Painting, goldart, Snach-ka

goldart

Snach-ka

Painting - 134 x 103 x 0.5 cm Painting - 52.8 x 40.6 x 0.2 inch

$5,265

Painting, Icare, Timothy Archer

Icare

Timothy Archer

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

$3,744

Fine Art Drawings, Talking Down, Bunkt_

Talking Down

Bunkt_

Fine Art Drawings - 43.2 x 35.6 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17 x 14 inch

$100

Fine Art Drawings, Feather, Bunkt_

Feather

Bunkt_

Fine Art Drawings - 43.2 x 35.6 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17 x 14 inch

$100

Print, Voyou, JP Malot

Voyou

JP Malot

Print - 50 x 70 cm Print - 19.7 x 27.6 inch

$117

Painting, Sans titre, Apo

Sans titre

Apo

Painting - 84.1 x 59.4 x 0.05 cm Painting - 33.1 x 23.4 x 0 inch

$1,170

Painting, All Falls Down, Marc Andre

All Falls Down

Marc Andre

Painting - 182.9 x 152.4 x 3.8 cm Painting - 72 x 60 x 1.5 inch

$10,000

Painting, Travel friends, Appel

Travel friends

Appel

Painting - 50 x 35 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

$328

Painting, Mum and dad, Appel

Mum and dad

Appel

Painting - 50 x 35 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

$328

Painting, Auf dem land, Nina Lanner

Auf dem land

Nina Lanner

Painting - 40 x 30 x 4 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

$702

Fine Art Drawings, Mauruuru, SP

Mauruuru

SP

Fine Art Drawings - 60 x 20 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.6 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

$468

Painting, Sans titre, Meteo Meteo

Sans titre

Meteo Meteo

Painting - 59.4 x 42 x 0.1 cm Painting - 23.4 x 16.5 x 0 inch

$374 $262

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