Art Brut
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.
Jéko
Sculpture . 68.5 x 23 x 4 cm Sculpture . 27 x 9.1 x 1.6 inch
CHFÂ 2,537
Recommended by Artsper
Jéko
Fine Art Drawings . 65 x 50 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
CHFÂ 1,171
Recommended by Artsper
Salvador Dali
Print . 73 x 52 x 0.1 cm Print . 28.7 x 20.5 x 0 inch
CHFÂ 6,674
Recommended by Artsper
Salvador Dali
Fine Art Drawings . 15.5 x 9.5 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 6.1 x 3.7 x 0.1 inch
CHFÂ 80,010
Marc Chagall
Print . 39 x 30 x 0.1 cm Print . 15.4 x 11.8 x 0 inch
CHFÂ 1,054
Recommended by Artsper
Marc Chagall
Photography . 32 x 24 x 1 cm Photography . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0.4 inch
CHFÂ 1,464
Recommended by Artsper
Marc Chagall
Print . 42 x 33.5 x 0.1 cm Print . 16.5 x 13.2 x 0 inch
CHFÂ 3,903
Recommended by Artsper
Marc Chagall
Fine Art Drawings . 15 x 11 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 5.9 x 4.3 x 0.4 inch
CHFÂ 19,515
Pierre Alechinsky
Print . 66 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print . 26 x 19.7 x 0 inch
CHFÂ 1,366
Recommended by Artsper
Pierre Alechinsky
Fine Art Drawings . 70 x 100 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 27.6 x 39.4 x 0.4 inch
CHFÂ 3,513
Pablo Picasso
Print . 54.5 x 38 x 0.1 cm Print . 21.5 x 15 x 0 inch
CHFÂ 14,441
Recommended by Artsper
Pablo Picasso
Print . 46 x 39 x 0.5 cm Print . 18.1 x 15.4 x 0.2 inch
CHFÂ 878 CHFÂ 834
Recommended by Artsper
Robert Combas
Print . 50 x 27 x 1 cm Print . 19.7 x 10.6 x 0.4 inch
CHFÂ 1,171
Recommended by Artsper
Robert Combas
Painting . 22 x 14 x 2 cm Painting . 8.7 x 5.5 x 0.8 inch
CHFÂ 37,078
Recommended by Artsper
Robert Combas
Fine Art Drawings . 61 x 48 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 24 x 18.9 x 0.4 inch
CHFÂ 10,733
Robert Combas
Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 40 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch
CHFÂ 1,259
Robert Combas
Fine Art Drawings . 29.5 x 18 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.6 x 7.1 x 0.2 inch
CHFÂ 2,878
André Masson
Fine Art Drawings . 31.5 x 25 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.4 x 9.8 x 0.1 inch
CHFÂ 1,464
Keith Haring
Print . 96.5 x 96.5 x 2 cm Print . 38 x 38 x 0.8 inch
CHFÂ 39,026
Recommended by Artsper
Keith Haring
Print . 76.2 x 101.6 x 2 cm Print . 30 x 40 x 0.8 inch
CHFÂ 86,723
Recommended by Artsper
Keith Haring
Print . 76.2 x 101.6 x 2 cm Print . 30 x 40 x 0.8 inch
CHFÂ 86,723
Recommended by Artsper
Hervé Di Rosa
Print . 80 x 80 x 2.5 cm Print . 31.5 x 31.5 x 1 inch
CHFÂ 2,147
Recommended by Artsper
Hervé Di Rosa
Print . 90 x 63 x 0.1 cm Print . 35.4 x 24.8 x 0 inch
CHFÂ 585
Recommended by Artsper
Hervé Di Rosa
Print . 75 x 88 x 0.1 cm Print . 29.5 x 34.6 x 0 inch
CHFÂ 585
Recommended by Artsper
Jean-Philippe Berger
Painting . 50 x 50 x 3 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch
CHFÂ 254
Recommended by Artsper
César Baldaccini
Sculpture . 53 x 14 x 14 cm Sculpture . 20.9 x 5.5 x 5.5 inch
CHFÂ 4,781
Recommended by Artsper
César Baldaccini
Fine Art Drawings . 55 x 40 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 21.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch
CHFÂ 3,903
César Baldaccini
Sculpture . 53 x 14 x 14 cm Sculpture . 20.9 x 5.5 x 5.5 inch
CHFÂ 4,781
Recommended by Artsper
César Baldaccini
Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 24 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0.4 inch
CHFÂ 4,391
Philippe Hiquily
Sculpture . 16 x 11.5 x 6 cm Sculpture . 6.3 x 4.5 x 2.4 inch
CHFÂ 976
Recommended by Artsper
Philippe Hiquily
Sculpture . 100 x 54 x 50 cm Sculpture . 39.4 x 21.3 x 19.7 inch
CHFÂ 43,908
Recommended by Artsper
Philippe Hiquily
Sculpture . 240 x 110 x 110 cm Sculpture . 94.5 x 43.3 x 43.3 inch
CHFÂ 117,088
Recommended by Artsper
Philippe Hiquily
Fine Art Drawings . 65 x 50 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 25.6 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch
CHFÂ 11,709
Philippe Hiquily
Sculpture . 16 x 8 x 8 cm Sculpture . 6.3 x 3.1 x 3.1 inch
CHFÂ 683
Recommended by Artsper
