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, MTL Nightlife, Yvan Genest

MTL Nightlife

Yvan Genest

Painting - 91.4 x 121.9 x 2.5 cm Painting - 36 x 48 x 1 inch

$5,350

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Pepe Nebot

Untitled

Pepe Nebot

Fine Art Drawings - 100 x 70 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 27.6 inch

$1,169

Painting, Party 1, Nazan Feyzioglu

Party 1

Nazan Feyzioglu

Painting - 90 x 120 x 3 cm Painting - 35.4 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch

$1,462

Painting, Chats, FeiWoux Chan

Chats

FeiWoux Chan

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

$2,925 $2,632

Painting, Latin Dance, Mike Jacobs

Latin Dance

Mike Jacobs

Painting - 81.5 x 50.5 x 0.4 cm Painting - 32.1 x 19.9 x 0.2 inch

$1,872

Painting, 20-04-2020, Rafik Majzoub

20-04-2020

Rafik Majzoub

Painting - 60 x 42 x 3 cm Painting - 23.6 x 16.5 x 1.2 inch

$4,300

Painting, 03-05-2020, Rafik Majzoub

03-05-2020

Rafik Majzoub

Painting - 60 x 42 x 3 cm Painting - 23.6 x 16.5 x 1.2 inch

$4,300

Painting, 06-05-2020, Rafik Majzoub

06-05-2020

Rafik Majzoub

Painting - 60 x 42 x 3 cm Painting - 23.6 x 16.5 x 1.2 inch

$4,300

Painting, Siouxy, Toof

Siouxy

Toof

Painting - 93 x 122 x 2 cm Painting - 36.6 x 48 x 0.8 inch

$5,265

Painting, Voisins, Helder Batista

Voisins

Helder Batista

Painting - 70 x 100 x 1 cm Painting - 27.6 x 39.4 x 0.4 inch

$6,084

Fine Art Drawings, Cycle 1692, Niki Neuts

Cycle 1692

Niki Neuts

Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 inch

$1,404

Painting, No title - Nº 4, Justyna

No title - Nº 4

Justyna

Painting - 100 x 70 x 1 cm Painting - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.4 inch

$3,568

Fine Art Drawings, Planet, Nino Devdariani

Planet

Nino Devdariani

Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 61.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 24.2 x 0 inch

$2,340

Painting, Be Wise, Ziv Lahat

Be Wise

Ziv Lahat

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

$11,641

Painting, Love and Unity, Ziv Lahat

Love and Unity

Ziv Lahat

Painting - 70 x 79.5 x 3 cm Painting - 27.6 x 31.3 x 1.2 inch

$7,933

Painting, La Fete, Ziv Lahat

La Fete

Ziv Lahat

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

$10,237

Painting, Mon Ami, Ziv Lahat

Mon Ami

Ziv Lahat

Painting - 80 x 70 x 3 cm Painting - 31.5 x 27.6 x 1.2 inch

$9,945

Painting, Les Muses, Richard Boigeol

Les Muses

Richard Boigeol

Painting - 81 x 65 x 2.5 cm Painting - 31.9 x 25.6 x 1 inch

$8,775

Painting, Pin-Up, Richard Boigeol

Pin-Up

Richard Boigeol

Painting - 92 x 73 x 2.5 cm Painting - 36.2 x 28.7 x 1 inch

$10,530

Painting, Malabar, Richard Boigeol

Malabar

Richard Boigeol

Painting - 92 x 73 x 2.5 cm Painting - 36.2 x 28.7 x 1 inch

$14,040

Painting, Mr Darty, Richard Boigeol

Mr Darty

Richard Boigeol

Painting - 73 x 60 x 2.5 cm Painting - 28.7 x 23.6 x 1 inch

$7,020

Painting, Lennon, Richard Boigeol

Lennon

Richard Boigeol

Painting - 54 x 73 x 2.5 cm Painting - 21.3 x 28.7 x 1 inch

$7,020

Painting, Jazz, Richard Boigeol

Jazz

Richard Boigeol

Painting - 81 x 65 x 2.5 cm Painting - 31.9 x 25.6 x 1 inch

$8,775

Painting, All Blue, Richard Boigeol

All Blue

Richard Boigeol

Painting - 73 x 60 x 2.5 cm Painting - 28.7 x 23.6 x 1 inch

$7,020

Painting, Toreador, Richard Boigeol

Toreador

Richard Boigeol

Painting - 81 x 100 x 2.5 cm Painting - 31.9 x 39.4 x 1 inch

$14,040

Painting, Dream III, Armo Avetisyan

Dream III

Armo Avetisyan

Painting - 70 x 50 x 2.5 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 1 inch

$1,989

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