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.
Save your search and find it in your favorites
Save your search to find it quickly
Saved search
Your search is accessible from the favorites tab > My favorite searches
Unsaved search
A problem occurred
Aquagravure originale de Speedy Graphito "Zoulou Flash Back"
Speedy Graphito
Print - 85 x 66 x 0.5 cm Print - 33.5 x 26 x 0.2 inch
$1,849
Ephémères colorés (N° Inédit)
Jazzu
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,849
Historical Document - Hunter Thompson
Ralph Steadman
Print - 33.02 x 55 x 1.27 cm Print - 13 x 21.7 x 0.5 inch
$750
On skate in the street art museum (7 pieces)
Themanfromthefuture Urano
Painting - 90 x 117 x 2 cm Painting - 35.4 x 46.1 x 0.8 inch
$2,196
C'est étonnant, tu crois pas
Jéko
Painting - 65 x 50 x 0.2 cm Painting - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
$1,387
Boîte de Petri #12
David Jehan (B.boss)
Painting - 80 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch
$694
Vision de guerre ! Avec destruction de la maison mère ! Avec avion pour destruction de Vies sur terre ! EA
Robert Combas
Print - 50 x 40 cm Print - 19.7 x 15.7 inch
$2,659
Pikachu in the colour & limited edition
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 55 x 33 x 30 cm Sculpture - 21.7 x 13 x 11.8 inch
$1,579
Marcher dans les champs de fleurs
Jéko
Painting - 65 x 50 x 0.2 cm Painting - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
$1,387
DJ.L-Machine Extasy.Musik
Robert Combas
Painting - 55 x 46 x 2.5 cm Painting - 21.7 x 18.1 x 1 inch
$60,105
Sans titre
Bengt Lindström
Painting - 64.5 x 54.5 x 0.5 cm Painting - 25.4 x 21.5 x 0.2 inch
$13,293 $11,963
Croquer la pomme - mythologie - cosmogonie - pomme - apple - Basquiat
Adélaïde Leferme
Painting - 89 x 115 x 4 cm Painting - 35 x 45.3 x 1.6 inch
$1,560
Un médaillon de chaîne figurant une femme en larmes
Frédéric Bruly Bouabré
Fine Art Drawings - 19 x 15 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.5 x 5.9 inch
$925
Mémorial ( Série Rwanda )
Damien Berrard
Painting - 73 x 60 x 1.5 cm Painting - 28.7 x 23.6 x 0.6 inch
$925
Rwanda ( Série Rwanda )
Damien Berrard
Painting - 65 x 54 x 1.5 cm Painting - 25.6 x 21.3 x 0.6 inch
$925
Etude
Franciszek Starowieyski
Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$694
Apelula - Composition graphique et symbolique semi-abstrait
Hervé Jonas
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$722
Onmesui - Composition graphique et symbolique semi-abstrait
Hervé Jonas
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$722
Au sommet du Corcovado, le majestueux Chris rédempteur vieille sur Rio de Janeiro
Frédéric Bruly Bouabré
Fine Art Drawings - 10.5 x 15 cm Fine Art Drawings - 4.1 x 5.9 inch
$694
