Now in its 24th edition, Outsider Art Fair has come to NYC. We had early access and present a selection of artists we found particularly exciting in the diverse and occasionally abstract field of ‘outsider art’. The event ran from Friday, January 22nd to Sunday, January 24th at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea.
First, a primer in what ‘outsider art’ is: Outsider art could initially be referred to as art brut (Raw Art). In a 1947 manifesto, French artist and curator Jean Dubuffet coined the term art brut as follows: “We understand by this term works produced by persons unscathed by artistic culture, where mimicry plays little or no part (contrary to the activities of intellectuals). These artists derive everything…from their own depths, and not from the conventions of classical or fashionable art.”
It’s NYC (the other location of Outsider Art Fair is Paris), but resistance to ‘trend’ and ‘style’ is at the tip of the interests at the Outsider Art Fair, now in its 24th edition. However, how ‘far’ these artists are from the popular energies of the art world is questionable, or perhaps the curatorial talents of certain members of the community are particularly extraordinary, either violating or enlightening. Are they dragging these artists into an abhorred and viral ecosystem dependent on hype and expense or exposing them to a community that was otherwise “in the dark” regarding any given artist. That said, Outsider Art fair seems to reform the whole discussion as something where discovery is a given and classic art world tropes suddenly apply. So, here we are, spotting trends just as we would. Outsider Art is still art, and so it is appropriate to send it through the same hoops and analytical persuasions we would a Warhol or Duchamp.
Perhaps the beauty of brut art lies in the fact that though fashions change, some artists wait around (perhaps a lifetime) waiting for their work to become fashionable. It’s a preservation of the tantalizing idea of being free of the ‘world’ and it’s foibles, but also being in the right place at the right time. For pop music, Enya uses this exact tactic to carry a career.
We were particularly drawn to the following artists:
Marlon Mullen – Mullen is influenced by the media, magazines, particularly ads and lifestyles (see: other people’s art; culture) and is an award winning artist and is represented by two (count ’em, TWO) galleries co-exclusively (JTT in New York and Adams and Ollman in Oregon). So much for forgoing the “conventions of classical”… Mullen has an incredible handle of pop art though, thick practical, hand-drawn lines, commenting directly on the art world, as a member of it, as a spectator, as a hater. Primary colors, serious pop subjects, from Artnet (a leading arts publication) to Marilyn Monroe melting away. It’s pop art if pop art used paint and had the internet. The effect here is great because Mullen (by being an outside artist ? Further research required) is allowed to step away and giggle with those who take the subject lightly enough and watch a brow furrow at how depressingly accurate the portrayal was.
Carlo Daleo – From LAND Gallery’s website, representing Daleo: “Carlo’s interests and influences are incredibly diverse, including Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Soupy Sales, Walt Disney, as well as newscasters and librarians.” Fair enough; but Carlo has a real obsession with approach above aesthetics. His scenes are simple, but are nearly comic-book rip-outs, as if someone pulled out the funniest scene and arranged them in a gallery. In one work, a flying saucer is landing. The byline in thin handwriting reads: “A FLYING SAUCER BEGAN TO FLY DOWN TO THE PLANET EARTH, RIGHT INTO PENSECOLA [sic] FLORIDA.[sic] AS OUR BRAVE HUMAN ALIEN TRIES TO KEEP CONTROLLING THE SHIP.” It’s a satisfyingly weird statement, rife with reference and a sense of “of course!”
Rob Tucker – Rob Tucker is a New Zealander whose large scale works are striking resin-finished works of still life, collages of sorts with untrue scale and brief captions describing feelings in concrete terms. A master at representing everyday objects, there’s something purely fun and old about his works, using rich but mildly muted colors. He dwells on sailing ships (see: cargo ships) contemporary faux naïf, flora, and more, often utilizing stains and washes. The work is worn but not dirty. It’s pure where it should be, its smothered and ashed where it should be. ‘I like to celebrate and glorify the subject of living in my naïve organic style of painting.’ No kidding. Represented by Rebecca Hossack gallery.
Michael J. Pellew Jr. – A Pellew work could be summarized as group photo taken a moment before anyone was ready. Or a bunch of people who are independently ‘relevant’ trying to explain their relevancy in a single quip. Often it’s just a mention of their name. A Pellew work is read left to right. A Pellew work has a timeline, pauses come after “and I’m…”. Most characters are dressed identically, Most characters have a duplicated expression. The works are hilarious and referential, instantly relatable. The crudely drawn characters look often nothing like their real-life (assumed) counterpart, which makes it all that much more funny. In any given Pellew work, you’ll see 70 “celebrities”. Its a new sort of contrast, everyone vying for your attention, you’re not so special when everyone’s special. There’s an up-down-left-right sense to Pellew’s work that makes it feel both exhausting and thrilling, and makes one consider just what makes someone worth “knowing”.
Whether any of these artists constituted as outsider artists is up to those who are so well versed the [self-imposed] paradox that is the definition. It’s all art to us. Honorable mention to Jerry Lewis for his ancient-looking collages, Helen Rae’s unique interpretation of Matisse-like pattern layering, Hiroyuki Doi’s effervescent cell like ink-and-pen works, Bill Traylor’s exceedingly simple depiction of a shadowy horse with a spooked expression, and Ion Barladeanu’s clever collages of archived photos, news photos, and advertisements to create lush and amusing scenes.
Outsider Art Fair NYC ran from Friday, January 22nd to Sunday, January 24th. http://outsiderartfair.com
Credit: Casey Kelbaugh