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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, Masque totemic #8, Tarek

Masque totemic #8

Tarek

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 15 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 5.9 x 0 inch

$111

Fine Art Drawings, Masque totemic #7, Tarek

Masque totemic #7

Tarek

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 15 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 5.9 x 0 inch

$111

Fine Art Drawings, Masque totemic #5, Tarek

Masque totemic #5

Tarek

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 15 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 5.9 x 0 inch

$111

Sculpture, Incased, Nicolas Kennett

Incased

Nicolas Kennett

Sculpture - 65 x 24 x 24 cm Sculpture - 25.6 x 9.4 x 9.4 inch

$5,265

Sculpture, Enjambre, Patopalomo

Enjambre

Patopalomo

Sculpture - 31 x 63 x 12 cm Sculpture - 12.2 x 24.8 x 4.7 inch

$1,111

Sculpture, La nymphe au faune, Raâk

La nymphe au faune

Raâk

Sculpture - 26 x 20 x 33 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 7.9 x 13 inch

$1,404

Sculpture, Tragon, Patopalomo

Tragon

Patopalomo

Sculpture - 37 x 80 x 27 cm Sculpture - 14.6 x 31.5 x 10.6 inch

$1,170

Design, N°37, Alicia Lasne

N°37

Alicia Lasne

Design - 50 x 50 x 1 cm Design - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

$819

Painting, Good Boy, Leo Ray

Good Boy

Leo Ray

Painting - 80 x 100 x 3.5 cm Painting - 31.5 x 39.4 x 1.4 inch

$4,900

Painting, Portrait 9, FeiWoux Chan

Portrait 9

FeiWoux Chan

Painting - 50 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

$1,755

Painting, Portrait 8, FeiWoux Chan

Portrait 8

FeiWoux Chan

Painting - 46 x 38 x 3 cm Painting - 18.1 x 15 x 1.2 inch

$1,404

Painting, Portrait 11, FeiWoux Chan

Portrait 11

FeiWoux Chan

Painting - 50 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

$1,755

Painting, Portrait 10, FeiWoux Chan

Portrait 10

FeiWoux Chan

Painting - 50 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

$1,755

Painting, Fleurs, FeiWoux Chan

Fleurs

FeiWoux Chan

Painting - 46 x 38 x 3 cm Painting - 18.1 x 15 x 1.2 inch

$1,404

Painting, Let's go to bed, Néo Pop

Let's go to bed

Néo Pop

Painting - 115 x 75 x 2 cm Painting - 45.3 x 29.5 x 0.8 inch

$585

Painting, Tags & Abstract, JP Malot

Tags & Abstract

JP Malot

Painting - 81 x 116 x 3 cm Painting - 31.9 x 45.7 x 1.2 inch

$12,870

Painting, Lobi, Jean-Michel Cordier

Lobi

Jean-Michel Cordier

Painting - 70 x 70 x 1 cm Painting - 27.6 x 27.6 x 0.4 inch

$1,872

Painting, Mask singer, PyB

Mask singer

PyB

Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

$257

Painting, Skull colors, PyB

Skull colors

PyB

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$222

Sculpture, Royal Basquiat, PyB

Royal Basquiat

PyB

Sculpture - 31 x 15 x 6 cm Sculpture - 12.2 x 5.9 x 2.4 inch

$292

Sculpture, King Head Basquiat, PyB

King Head Basquiat

PyB

Sculpture - 25 x 15 x 3 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 5.9 x 1.2 inch

$304

Painting, L'écharpe, Julien Cuny

L'écharpe

Julien Cuny

Painting - 50 x 35 x 0.1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0 inch

$211

Painting, Batman, Julien Cuny

Batman

Julien Cuny

Painting - 50 x 35 x 0.1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0 inch

$211

Painting, Le cycliste, Julien Cuny

Le cycliste

Julien Cuny

Painting - 50 x 35 x 0.1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0 inch

$211

Painting, La casquette, Julien Cuny

La casquette

Julien Cuny

Painting - 50 x 35 x 0.1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0 inch

$211

Fine Art Drawings, M16 USA, André Robillard

M16 USA

André Robillard

Fine Art Drawings - 47 x 68 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18.5 x 26.8 x 0 inch

$2,106

Design, N°38, Alicia Lasne

N°38

Alicia Lasne

Design - 50 x 38 x 1 cm Design - 19.7 x 15 x 0.4 inch

$702

Design, N°31, Alicia Lasne

N°31

Alicia Lasne

Design - 30 x 70 x 1 cm Design - 11.8 x 27.6 x 0.4 inch

$819

Design, N)28, Alicia Lasne

N)28

Alicia Lasne

Design - 53 x 40 x 1 cm Design - 20.9 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

$819

Design, N°27, Alicia Lasne

N°27

Alicia Lasne

Design - 50 x 40 x 1 cm Design - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

$819

Design, N°30, Alicia Lasne

N°30

Alicia Lasne

Design - 31 x 73 x 2 cm Design - 12.2 x 28.7 x 0.8 inch

$877

Painting, Le ruisseau, Julien Calot

Le ruisseau

Julien Calot

Painting - 65 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 25.6 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

$4,446

Painting, Liaison, Willy Charps

Liaison

Willy Charps

Painting - 80 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

$1,872

Painting, Cuac #5, Patopalomo

Cuac #5

Patopalomo

Painting - 20 x 20 x 0.24 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch

$234

Fine Art Drawings, The frowns, Fred Borghesi

The frowns

Fred Borghesi

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 18 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 7.1 x 0.1 inch

$3,510

Painting, Fight Night, Mr Popart

Fight Night

Mr Popart

Painting - 80 x 80 x 3 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch

$1,147

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