Some thoughts about Raw (Outsider) Art

Once the term Raw Art (and the the term 'Outsider Art') was used to describe work produced by artists working in cultural isolation, following their own vision.

All of that vision and mythos spills out flamboyantly onto canvas, wood, scrap metal, whatever is available. Raw artists tend to be scavengers, therefore many build exhilarating and strange constructs out of detritus and junk; all the gorgeous rubbish that less visionary folks throw away.





Their isolation might be physical, emotional , or a result of mental illness (or a combination of these). Their work is idiosyncratic, bold and arresting, rarely pretty or twee. These isolates, working outside the cultural mainstream, following their personal and passionate visions, produce compelling, exciting and often disturbing work. But the term has now expanded to include other artists as well, individuals who may be connected to, and function in society, but really have no interest in the established art world, little or no formal training, yet are driven to make art.