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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Painting, Desire, Laurent Proneur

Desire

Laurent Proneur

Painting - 152.4 x 121.9 x 5.1 cm Painting - 60 x 48 x 2 inch

$26,300

Painting, Blue mood, Joann Côté

Blue mood

Joann Côté

Painting - 188 x 94 x 5.1 cm Painting - 74 x 37 x 2 inch

$4,200

Painting, Thinking, Theo Mackaay

Thinking

Theo Mackaay

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

$3,517

Painting, Rock'n Roll, Max Rovira

Rock'n Roll

Max Rovira

Painting - 120 x 150 x 2 cm Painting - 47.2 x 59.1 x 0.8 inch

$6,914

Painting, Black friday, Joann Côté

Black friday

Joann Côté

Painting - 152.4 x 106.7 x 5.1 cm Painting - 60 x 42 x 2 inch

$4,000

Painting, Angel, Francky Criquet

Angel

Francky Criquet

Painting - 172 x 122 x 4 cm Painting - 67.7 x 48 x 1.6 inch

$4,888

Painting, Intimacy, Marleen Stegeman

Intimacy

Marleen Stegeman

Painting - 80 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

$3,696

Painting, Pez, Alex Lazard

Pez

Alex Lazard

Painting - 60 x 70 x 3 cm Painting - 23.6 x 27.6 x 1.2 inch

$2,742

Painting, Promenade, Joanna Flatau

Promenade

Joanna Flatau

Painting - 80 x 100 x 5 cm Painting - 31.5 x 39.4 x 2 inch

$6,557

Painting, La douche, Arome

La douche

Arome

Painting - 130 x 97 x 2 cm Painting - 51.2 x 38.2 x 0.8 inch

$1,431

Painting, Sex Party 15, VeraD

Sex Party 15

VeraD

Painting - 20 x 20 x 1 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

$209

Painting, Sex Party 13, VeraD

Sex Party 13

VeraD

Painting - 20 x 20 x 1 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

$209

Painting, Sex Party 14, VeraD

Sex Party 14

VeraD

Painting - 20 x 20 x 1 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

$209

Painting, Odalisque, Samuel Bloch

Odalisque

Samuel Bloch

Painting - 135 x 170 x 3 cm Painting - 53.1 x 66.9 x 1.2 inch

$1,788

Painting, Facebook, Andrzej Gudanski

Facebook

Andrzej Gudanski

Painting - 70 x 90 x 0.5 cm Painting - 27.6 x 35.4 x 0.2 inch

$4,172

Painting, Belle, Léo Pansard

Belle

Léo Pansard

Painting - 61 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 24 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

$1,788

Painting, Sex Party 5, VeraD

Sex Party 5

VeraD

Painting - 20 x 20 x 1 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

$209

Painting, Sex Party 6, VeraD

Sex Party 6

VeraD

Painting - 20 x 20 x 1 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

$209

Painting, Traite, Bolkinn

Traite

Bolkinn

Painting - 100 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

$2,980

Painting, L'altruiste, Pitu

L'altruiste

Pitu

Painting - 160 x 160 x 2 cm Painting - 63 x 63 x 0.8 inch

Price upon request

Painting, Le Gaté, Pitu

Le Gaté

Pitu

Painting - 162 x 114 x 2 cm Painting - 63.8 x 44.9 x 0.8 inch

Price upon request

Painting, Les maux de tête, Jazzu

Les maux de tête

Jazzu

Painting - 60 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

Sold

Painting, A L'abri, Jazzu

A L'abri

Jazzu

Painting - 100 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

Sold

Painting, Black and white, Jazzu

Black and white

Jazzu

Painting - 40 x 20 x 10 cm Painting - 15.7 x 7.9 x 3.9 inch

Sold

Painting, Blues, Jazzu

Blues

Jazzu

Painting - 40 x 25 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 9.8 x 0.8 inch

Sold

Painting, A Suivre, Jazzu

A Suivre

Jazzu

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

Sold

Painting, Trait d'union, Jazzu

Trait d'union

Jazzu

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

Sold

Painting, Get Out, Jazzu

Get Out

Jazzu

Painting - 30 x 24 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch

Sold

Painting, Boom, Jazzu

Boom

Jazzu

Painting - 30 x 20 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch

Sold

Painting, The eye, Noah Borger

The eye

Noah Borger

Painting - 60 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

Sold

Painting, Plus tard, Jazzu

Plus tard

Jazzu

Painting - 27 x 19 x 2 cm Painting - 10.6 x 7.5 x 0.8 inch

Sold

Painting, Folles idées, Jazzu

Folles idées

Jazzu

Painting - 30 x 20 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch

Sold

Painting, Espérer toujours, Jazzu

Espérer toujours

Jazzu

Painting - 27 x 22 x 2 cm Painting - 10.6 x 8.7 x 0.8 inch

Sold

Painting, Zoom Elair, Jazzu

Zoom Elair

Jazzu

Painting - 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

Sold

Painting, Série brut, Jazzu

Série brut

Jazzu

Painting - 76 x 56 x 1 cm Painting - 29.9 x 22 x 0.4 inch

Sold

Painting, Série brut, Jazzu

Série brut

Jazzu

Painting - 65 x 50 x 1 cm Painting - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

Sold

Painting, Brut, Jazzu

Brut

Jazzu

Painting - 76 x 56 x 1 cm Painting - 29.9 x 22 x 0.4 inch

Sold

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