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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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Painting, Deep Face, Max Ruela

Deep Face

Max Ruela

Painting - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$257

Painting, Mademoiselle, Binsky

Mademoiselle

Binsky

Painting - 140 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 55.1 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

$5,250

Design, N°35, Alicia Lasne

N°35

Alicia Lasne

Design - 64 x 54 x 1 cm Design - 25.2 x 21.3 x 0.4 inch

$994

Design, N°34, Alicia Lasne

N°34

Alicia Lasne

Design - 70 x 50 x 1 cm Design - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

$994

Print, Le secret, Yohan Storti

Le secret

Yohan Storti

Print - 70 x 49 x 0.1 cm Print - 27.6 x 19.3 x 0 inch

$104

Print, Creep, Yohan Storti

Creep

Yohan Storti

Print - 49 x 70 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.3 x 27.6 x 0 inch

$104

Painting, Eternal Love, Helen Warner

Eternal Love

Helen Warner

Painting - 90 x 90 x 3.7 cm Painting - 35.4 x 35.4 x 1.5 inch

$10,577

Painting, Karma Voyage, Ziv Lahat

Karma Voyage

Ziv Lahat

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

$11,992

Painting, Ciego #6, Jeffrey Davies

Ciego #6

Jeffrey Davies

Painting - 61 x 45.7 x 1.3 cm Painting - 24 x 18 x 0.5 inch

$515

Painting, Tres Gracias, Alex Lazard

Tres Gracias

Alex Lazard

Painting - 67 x 53 x 3 cm Painting - 26.4 x 20.9 x 1.2 inch

$2,691

Fine Art Drawings, Swans Ballet, Leona Rose

Swans Ballet

Leona Rose

Fine Art Drawings - 81 x 65 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 31.9 x 25.6 x 0.4 inch

$468

Fine Art Drawings, Fiesta Colombiana, Leona Rose

Fiesta Colombiana

Leona Rose

Fine Art Drawings - 81 x 65 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 31.9 x 25.6 x 0.4 inch

$468

Fine Art Drawings, Coco lova lova, Leona Rose

Coco lova lova

Leona Rose

Fine Art Drawings - 81 x 65 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 31.9 x 25.6 x 0.4 inch

$468

Sculpture, Bushido, Edith BK

Bushido

Edith BK

Sculpture - 35 x 22 x 12.5 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 8.7 x 4.9 inch

$5,265

Painting, Cool 2, Seb Paul Michel

Cool 2

Seb Paul Michel

Painting - 81 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 31.9 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

$936

Sculpture, Ancient, Victor Prodanchuk

Ancient

Victor Prodanchuk

Sculpture - 26 x 21 x 17 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 8.3 x 6.7 inch

$4,650

Painting, Le satyre, Timothy Archer

Le satyre

Timothy Archer

Painting - 59 x 42 x 0.1 cm Painting - 23.2 x 16.5 x 0 inch

$2,047

Painting, Pajareando, Patopalomo

Pajareando

Patopalomo

Painting - 39 x 50 x 0.7 cm Painting - 15.4 x 19.7 x 0.3 inch

$550

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Samaneh Atef

Sans titre

Samaneh Atef

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

$3,159

Painting, Jolies dents, SP

Jolies dents

SP

Painting - 40 x 40 x 1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

$456

Fine Art Drawings, The Frowns N2, Fred Borghesi

The Frowns N2

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, Velo 84, Jaber El Mahjoub

Velo 84

Jaber El Mahjoub

Painting - 24 x 32 x 0.1 cm Painting - 9.4 x 12.6 x 0 inch

$175

Painting, Dead, Mr Popart

Dead

Mr Popart

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

$1,147

Painting, ça chauffe!, Patopalomo

ça chauffe!

Patopalomo

Painting - 14 x 14 x 0.14 cm Painting - 5.5 x 5.5 x 0.1 inch

$88

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Rosemarie Koczy

Sans titre

Rosemarie Koczy

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 34 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 13.4 inch

$1,755

Painting, Untitled, Robert Combas

Untitled

Robert Combas

Painting - 82 x 52 x 5 cm Painting - 32.3 x 20.5 x 2 inch

$92,429

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