The Fantastic Naïfs—Insiders and Outsiders

Two naive paintings (Left - by Henri Rousseau and Right - by Grandma Moses) that will be discussed in class (click photo for larger image)Jill Kiefer will be devoting one online class to Naïve and Outsider artists. You can also read about these wonderful genres here on What About Art?

Naïve artists (also called Naïfs) include individuals in civilized societies who lack or reject conventional expertise in the representation or depiction of real objects. These artists, such as Henri Rousseau and Grandma Moses, pursue their art with the same commitment as formally trained individuals.  Outsider Art (also known as Brut Art) generally refers to works produced by individuals living on the fringes or outside of mainstream societies, such as prisoners, patients institutionalized for mental illness, and homeless people. Henry Darger and Paul Edlin fall into this category, along with some trained artists who have chosen to associate with the group. In this program, we’ll track the evolution of these pathways to making art, with special emphasis placed on the artists’ motivations—and the influences of their art on the broader culture.

Friday, 19 June - 3:00pm – 4:00pm Eastern (New York Time)

Click HERE to Register. Class sizes are limited to don’t wait!