Who’s an artist? Somebody who has attended an art school or anybody giving creative expression to various impulses? Perhaps, the latter. That’s what Outsider Art is about, art that is raw and unconditioned by institutional regimen. It’s a field where there are no boundaries.
Wide Open Arts (WOA), the producers of the upcoming third edition of the Outsider Art Fair in Paris, explain it best on their website: The “central characteristic shared by Outsiders is simply their lack of conditioning by art history or art world trends. Over the years, the parameters of Outsider Art have expanded dramatically to include art made by a wide variety of art-makers who share this common denominator of raw creativity. Outsiders come from all walks of life, from all cultures, from all age groups.”
WOA, formed by art dealer Andrew Edlin, bought the Outsider Art Fair of New York in 2012. The organization expanded and relocated the New York fair to Center 548 in Chelsea, and its 2013 edition saw the attendance tripling over previous editions. Prompted by its success in New York, WOA took the fair to Paris for the first time in October 2013. In advance of the October 22 opening of the Paris fair’s third edition, coinciding with FIAC, its director, Becca Hoffman, shared her thoughts on the fair and outsider art with ARTINFO.
The fair is pretty non-conformist. How has it been received?
Given that we are returning for our third year with a new venue and 50 percent increase in the number of exhibitors, it’s clear that we are having success in Paris. Our venture there was an outgrowth from the incredible response to the first New York edition under our ownership. The New York fair was already a well-established institution when we took over, and the whole allure has always been that the artists are self-taught. So the lack of “pedigreed education” has always been the point.
Could you talk about Shinichi Sawada’s sculpture show at the fair?
Sawada’s work is really sensational and has been in some major shows over the last few years: 2013 Venice Biennale, London’s Wellcome Collection, Collection de L’Art Brut, and Halle Saint Pierre. But the work has never been available for sale, which has made it less visible and should prove a real treat to our visitors.
Self-taught artists haven’t had it easy finding fame. Is it still true?
There has been much broader recognition for Outsider Art on the institutional and global level. Certainly, the online culture has been key to disseminating information and images of these incredible works.
Are there enough galleries to throw their weight behind outsider artists?
There are many avenues to getting one’s work noticed, however most outsider artists have the support of a third party — a friend or family member that helps champion their work and brings it to the attention of art world. Ateliers and art therapy centers like Creative Growth help facilitate the development of artists. It is fair to say that this is an expanding field with new galleries focusing on self taught art.
Yours is the only fair on Outsider art in the world. Does this help?
We are the only fair in the world that focuses on Outsider Art, you are right. This is a tremendous responsibility and privilege for we are actually, in effect, curating the largest shows of Outsider Art every year with our two fairs. Since Wide Open Arts purchased the Fair we have worked hard at invigorating, enlivening, and expanding the field — recruiting and mentoring new dealers, finding galleries with broader programs who are interested in participating. This is a small field but an expanding one.
Could you name some highly valued Outsider artists of our times?
Dan Miller, Susan Te Kahurangi King, George Widener, Julian Martin, and M’onmma are a just a handful of the highly lauded self-taught artists you’ll see at the fairs.
How do you foresee the market for Outsider art in near future?
The market continues to grow, especially when it comes to the top echelon of artists — the supply is very limited and now Christie’s has jumped into the business, setting a record for Darger in Paris last year with more activity planned for New York in September and January. It is a field that provides welcome solace from the contemporary art world.
What would you advise outsider artists waiting to be recognized?
Outsider artists don’t need any input from dealers or any other forces trying to put them on some kind of career track. Sooner or later good work finds their way to someone who gets it into the public’s eye. Or it doesn’t and that’s just the nature of things.
The Outsider Art Fair will be held at Hôtel du Duc, 22 rue de la Michodière, 75002 Paris, October 22-25. For details, visit www.outsiderartfair.com.
