Outsider Art: Spontaneous Alternatives

By Colin Rhodes

Book Overview

Outsider Art is work produced outside the mainstream of modern art by self-taught, untrained visionaries, spiritualists, eccentric recluses, folk artists, psychiatric patients, criminals, and others beyond the imposed margins of society and the art market. Coined by Roger Cardinal in 1972, the term in English derived from Jean Dubuffet's "art brut"--literally "raw art," "uncooked" by culture, unaffected by fashion, unmoved by artistic standards. In this indispensable book Colin Rhodes surveys the history and reception of Outsider Art--first championed by Dubuffet and the Surrealists, now appreciated by a wide public--while providing insight into the achievements of both major figures and newly discovered artists. From spirit-guided Madge Gill to schizophrenic Adolf W lfli, these individuals passionately and obsessively pursue the pictorial expression of their vision.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0500203342
• ISBN13: 9780500203347
• Release Date: April 2000
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 1.04 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

A must have book at a great price!

This is a must have book for anyone interested in Outsider Art, the Arts in general, Aesthetics, and Cultural Studies. A book of depth and breadth, with a great price and fast delivery!

Outside the box

This book offers great insight into Outsider Art, how it came to be appreciated and the liberating effect that it had on Modernism. For me it was interesting to learn that artists like Paul Klee, George Grosz and Cy Twombly were directly influenced by Art Brut. As others have mentioned, the text is academic and distant from the subject matter, but is nevertheless fascinating for anyone interested in art. The reproductions of the work are mainly used for reference and about half of them are in color. In other words, if you're looking for a coffee table book, you should look elsewhere (like 'Raw Creation: Outsider Art and Beyond').

Expand your definition of quality in art

This examination of outsider art begins with artist Jean Duboffet and his formation of the Art Brut movement in the mid-1940s. Duboffet's primary criterion for inclusion in the outsider category was that the artist had to exist outside of the prevalent culture of society. He amassed a huge collection of art that he culled initially from the works of children, and eventually from psychiatric patients. Colin Rhodes goes on to trace the pre-Art Brut history of appreciating the works of the "insane", and proceeds to document representative examples as well as the forces in society that brought attention to them. Rhodes also examines additional sources for outside art including artists working through spiritual mediums, self-taught visionaries creating obsessive environments, and people working outside the mainstream currents of power and culture.Rhodes is even-handed while presenting the various schools of thought as well as their rationales concerning outsider art definitions. His writing is academic, and lacks any sense of humor, but is incredibly informative and representative. The book is beautifully crafted, with copious plates reproducing samples from various artists. Together with his academic pontifications, they are very illuminating and convey a full understanding of this broad subject. He also includes anecdotes about the lives of these artists that serve to enliven the experience of reading the book. If you are interested in 20th century art and beyond, and will resolve to be patient with the author's academic tone, I think you will really enjoy this.

Great Introduction to the subject...comprehensive!

As a collector of thrift store paintings, I was completely enthralled with this book! I couldn't put it down. I now look at my paintings with a new perspective. This book was able to validate many of my intuitive feelings about the creative process. Thank-you Colin Rhodes for this insightful look at some of the least understood of paintings!