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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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Print, On va s'en sortir, Jazzu

On va s'en sortir

Jazzu

Print - 40 x 30 x 1 cm Print - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

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Painting, Sans titre 11, Marc Duran

Sans titre 11

Marc Duran

Painting - 40 x 50 x 0.2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

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Print, Le Nubien, Louis Toffoli

Le Nubien

Louis Toffoli

Print - 53 x 38 x 0.3 cm Print - 20.9 x 15 x 0.1 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Portrait #2, Jéko

Portrait #2

Jéko

Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 21 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

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Painting, Family III, Angu Walters

Family III

Angu Walters

Painting - 70 x 40 x 1 cm Painting - 27.6 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

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Painting, Ma cocotte, Sabine Louriac

Ma cocotte

Sabine Louriac

Painting - 65 x 50 x 0.3 cm Painting - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 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, Concert, Marc Duran

Concert

Marc Duran

Painting - 100 x 100 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 inch

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Painting, The servant, Marc Duran

The servant

Marc Duran

Painting - 101.5 x 63 cm Painting - 40 x 24.8 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, The Love, Kirill Postovit

The Love

Kirill Postovit

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.6 x 0 inch

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Painting, Sans titre, Bault

Sans titre

Bault

Painting - 45 x 63 x 2 cm Painting - 17.7 x 24.8 x 0.8 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Irises, Kirill Postovit

Irises

Kirill Postovit

Fine Art Drawings - 60 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

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Print, Saints, John Piper

Saints

John Piper

Print - 72.5 x 52.5 x 0.1 cm Print - 28.5 x 20.7 x 0 inch

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Painting, Monkey and man skull, PyB

Monkey and man skull

PyB

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

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Painting, Music, Pitu

Music

Pitu

Painting - 100 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

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Painting, Origin, Jean-Marc Hunt

Origin

Jean-Marc Hunt

Painting - 200 x 151 x 4 cm Painting - 78.7 x 59.4 x 1.6 inch

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Painting, Pianoo, Pitu

Pianoo

Pitu

Painting - 120 x 120 x 3 cm Painting - 47.2 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch

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Sculpture, Spatial solitude, Wabé

Spatial solitude

Wabé

Sculpture - 44 x 42 x 6 cm Sculpture - 17.3 x 16.5 x 2.4 inch

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Painting, Guembo, Jean-Marc Hunt

Guembo

Jean-Marc Hunt

Painting - 75 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 29.5 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

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Painting, Salut de la Diva, Pitu

Salut de la Diva

Pitu

Painting - 100 x 100 x 1.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.6 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Sans-titre, Daniel Dezeuze

Sans-titre

Daniel Dezeuze

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 11.8 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 4.6 inch

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Painting, Canari, Jean-Marc Hunt

Canari

Jean-Marc Hunt

Painting - 200 x 151 x 4 cm Painting - 78.7 x 59.4 x 1.6 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Bunkt_

Untitled

Bunkt_

Fine Art Drawings - 43.2 x 35.6 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17 x 14 inch

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