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, Lumineux, Pitu

Lumineux

Pitu

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

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Painting, Dali, David Paul Kay

Dali

David Paul Kay

Painting - 80 x 55 x 3 cm Painting - 31.5 x 21.7 x 1.2 inch

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Painting, Glossolalia, Andrew Weir

Glossolalia

Andrew Weir

Painting - 48 x 36 x 0.1 cm Painting - 18.9 x 14.2 x 0 inch

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Painting, Le Cri Électrique, SP

Le Cri Électrique

SP

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

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Painting, Bof, Jazzu

Bof

Jazzu

Painting - 18 x 14 x 2 cm Painting - 7.1 x 5.5 x 0.8 inch

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Painting, Oeil Rouge, Jazzu

Oeil Rouge

Jazzu

Painting - 18 x 14 x 2 cm Painting - 7.1 x 5.5 x 0.8 inch

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Painting, Welcome, MAM

Welcome

MAM

Painting - 80 x 80 x 4 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1.6 inch

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Painting, Nouvelle Vie, Jazzu

Nouvelle Vie

Jazzu

Painting - 18 x 14 x 2 cm Painting - 7.1 x 5.5 x 0.8 inch

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Painting, Comme un poisson, Jazzu

Comme un poisson

Jazzu

Painting - 18 x 14 x 2 cm Painting - 7.1 x 5.5 x 0.8 inch

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Painting, Love love, Jazzu

Love love

Jazzu

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

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Painting, Sun, Jazzu

Sun

Jazzu

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

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Painting, 13111, Mercedes Lagunas

13111

Mercedes Lagunas

Painting - 100 x 80 x 0.1 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 0 inch

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Painting, Go easy, Mercedes Lagunas

Go easy

Mercedes Lagunas

Painting - 90 x 90 x 2 cm Painting - 35.4 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

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Painting, Hey JO, André Cervera

Hey JO

André Cervera

Painting - 65 x 54 x 3 cm Painting - 25.6 x 21.3 x 1.2 inch

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Painting, Konfina2, Patopalomo

Konfina2

Patopalomo

Painting - 70 x 50 x 0.24 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

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Painting, Yellow boy, Bunkt_

Yellow boy

Bunkt_

Painting - 91.4 x 61 x 2.5 cm Painting - 36 x 24 x 1 inch

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Painting, Bama dream, Kokian

Bama dream

Kokian

Painting - 78 x 63 x 2 cm Painting - 30.7 x 24.8 x 0.8 inch

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Painting, Stradivarius, Max Rovira

Stradivarius

Max Rovira

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

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Painting, Amour de potes, MAM

Amour de potes

MAM

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

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Painting, Arc en ciel, Pitu

Arc en ciel

Pitu

Painting - 116 x 89 x 4 cm Painting - 45.7 x 35 x 1.6 inch

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Painting, Naponissa, Aperato

Naponissa

Aperato

Painting - 30 x 30 x 4 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

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Painting, Cactus, Leo Guida

Cactus

Leo Guida

Painting - 80 x 60 x 1 cm Painting - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

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Painting, Je rêve, Patopalomo

Je rêve

Patopalomo

Painting - 70 x 50 x 0.2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

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Painting, Kiss, Michael Edery

Kiss

Michael Edery

Painting - 100 x 90 x 2.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 35.4 x 1 inch

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Painting, Musitando, Patopalomo

Musitando

Patopalomo

Painting - 70 x 50 x 0.24 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

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Painting, Bichotes, Patopalomo

Bichotes

Patopalomo

Painting - 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

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Painting, Bicharracos, Patopalomo

Bicharracos

Patopalomo

Painting - 70 x 50 x 0.24 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

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Painting, Difariando, Patopalomo

Difariando

Patopalomo

Painting - 70 x 50 x 0.24 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

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Painting, Variante, Patopalomo

Variante

Patopalomo

Painting - 70 x 50 x 0.24 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

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Painting, Kokian IN, Kokian

Kokian IN

Kokian

Painting - 75 x 59 cm Painting - 29.5 x 23.2 inch

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Painting, En ville, Marc Duran

En ville

Marc Duran

Painting - 162 x 130 cm Painting - 63.8 x 51.2 inch

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Painting, Tired, Popkapi

Tired

Popkapi

Painting - 80 x 60 x 4 cm Painting - 31.5 x 23.6 x 1.6 inch

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Painting, Blue Eyes, Popkapi

Blue Eyes

Popkapi

Painting - 80 x 60 x 4 cm Painting - 31.5 x 23.6 x 1.6 inch

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Painting, Tribu happy potes, MAM

Tribu happy potes

MAM

Painting - 30 x 30 x 4 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

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Painting, Toto Tag, David Ferreira

Toto Tag

David Ferreira

Painting - 210 x 140 x 2 cm Painting - 82.7 x 55.1 x 0.8 inch

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Painting, Big boy, Jean-Marc Calvet

Big boy

Jean-Marc Calvet

Painting - 38 x 55 x 2 cm Painting - 15 x 21.7 x 0.8 inch

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Painting, Big time, Mercedes Lagunas

Big time

Mercedes Lagunas

Painting - 100 x 150 x 0.1 cm Painting - 39.4 x 59.1 x 0 inch

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Painting, Les Pirates, Pitu

Les Pirates

Pitu

Painting - 120 x 200 x 4 cm Painting - 47.2 x 78.7 x 1.6 inch

Sold

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