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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Movement Outsider Art

Les certitudes

Surreal-Avatar

Performance Secret Life

N13

N11

N10

N1

Galaxy Song

Segenale rosso

Notte blu

Flash

Capo Volto

Cage / Sans titre

Cage / Sans titre

Mean Mouse

BONHOM'EUREUX COSTAUD

Tête #1627

La peau d'une orange séchée paraissant être à la fois un pistolet et une gueule de chien

Lidice 3 Variante

Lidice 1 Variante

Mountain Spring

Mr. Horns

Mask

Pajaro con la L en el cuerpo

Untitled4

Untitled3

Biface Jeune fille avec lune sur fond rouge / jeune femme ombrageuse

Grigri

Grigri

Grigri

Grigri

Grigri

Aligator Crossing

Eiffel Tower

Le voleur d'arcanes

Auto-portrait en prêtre de lune

Travailleur au bonnet noir #2

Joker

Spirito fuoco

The Earth is Beautiful

Beautiful Elle

Kiss in dreamhouse

Peps

House on the hill

Le Chaman

C'est la main de Laura, pas la mienne Duchamp

Café, Coca

VAn Gogh Sanglier

Ultimate Anxi

Le ventilo et le ballon

I see ten thousands chariots

Gloire à la femme

Le mystère des dessins sans poil mais avec texte (Avec un dessin original signé)

Les patineuses

Pour une poignée de marrons

Cool kids

Rock and bones

The bull

The Dancers painting from Africa

Grace Kelly (Triptyque)

Rocket man

Les Pirates Skull

L'Oiseau Rare

Le secret des Contes

Déesse ou martyre

Autoportrait en bleu