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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Sous le signe de l'espérance
Jazzu
Painting - 81 x 130 x 2 cm Painting - 31.9 x 51.2 x 0.8 inch
$3,810
Une belle image du bonheur
Jazzu
Painting - 81 x 130 x 2 cm Painting - 31.9 x 51.2 x 0.8 inch
$3,810
La Tocada de Jazz
Enrique Pichardo
Painting - 170 x 140 x 2 cm Painting - 66.9 x 55.1 x 0.8 inch
$4,241
Bailarina y Chelista
Enrique Pichardo
Painting - 200 x 336 x 2 cm Painting - 78.7 x 132.3 x 0.8 inch
$13,155
Ephémères colorés (N° Inédit)
Jazzu
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,905 $1,714
Improvisación 4 Serie La caja negra
Enrique Pichardo
Painting - 230 x 330 x 2 cm Painting - 90.6 x 129.9 x 0.8 inch
$14,884
Losing track of time
Maria Esmar
Painting - 120 x 120 x 4 cm Painting - 47.2 x 47.2 x 1.6 inch
$3,453
Bonjor Tunismamas
Jaber El Mahjoub
Painting - 95 x 75 x 3 cm Painting - 37.4 x 29.5 x 1.2 inch
$1,012
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
$2,262
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
$714
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
$1,429
Les couleurs des fleurs d'été
Jéko
Painting - 65 x 50 x 0.2 cm Painting - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
$1,429
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
$1,607
Mémorial ( Série Rwanda )
Damien Berrard
Painting - 73 x 60 x 1.5 cm Painting - 28.7 x 23.6 x 0.6 inch
$952
Rwanda ( Série Rwanda )
Damien Berrard
Painting - 65 x 54 x 1.5 cm Painting - 25.6 x 21.3 x 0.6 inch
$952
U malé II ( igname salé II )
Stéphane Foucaud
Painting - 103.5 x 89 x 4 cm Painting - 40.7 x 35 x 1.6 inch
$2,101
La case aux oiseaux
Stéphane Foucaud
Painting - 96.5 x 78 x 4 cm Painting - 38 x 30.7 x 1.6 inch
$1,686
Tapestry Triptych
Rachel McCullock
Painting - 30 x 89.9 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch
$1,571
Sans titre
Bengt Lindström
Painting - 64.5 x 54.5 x 0.5 cm Painting - 25.4 x 21.5 x 0.2 inch
$13,691
Shifting Perspectives
Ziv Tidhar
Painting - 100 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch
$2,350
Pathways of Imagination
Ziv Tidhar
Painting - 100 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch
$2,350
Behind the mask
Grégoire Devin
Painting - 213.4 x 213.4 x 5.1 cm Painting - 84 x 84 x 2 inch
$20,400
La tête dans un pull en marche arrière
Nep-
Painting - 100 x 81 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.9 x 0.8 inch
$3,453