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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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Fine Art Drawings, Permesi, Imam Sucahyo

Permesi

Imam Sucahyo

Fine Art Drawings - 19.8 x 24.9 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.8 x 9.8 inch

$585

Fine Art Drawings, Thinking, Shota Imerlishvili

Thinking

Shota Imerlishvili

Fine Art Drawings - 61 x 86 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 33.9 x 0 inch

$7,020

Painting, Self Portrait!, JP Malot

Self Portrait!

JP Malot

Painting - 120 x 44 x 2.5 cm Painting - 47.2 x 17.3 x 1 inch

$3,510

Sculpture, Azuréen, Pinto

Azuréen

Pinto

Sculpture - 80 x 14 x 6 cm Sculpture - 31.5 x 5.5 x 2.4 inch

$3,276

Sculpture, Extase amoureuse, Raâk

Extase amoureuse

Raâk

Sculpture - 37 x 22 x 11 cm Sculpture - 14.6 x 8.7 x 4.3 inch

$2,106

Painting, Trilogie, Sabine Louriac

Trilogie

Sabine Louriac

Painting - 24 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 9.4 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

$573

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

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

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

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, Salute, Barbara d'Antuono

Salute

Barbara d'Antuono

Painting - 67 x 65 x 5 cm Painting - 26.4 x 25.6 x 2 inch

$3,276

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

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