Last week, Outsider Art Fair (OAF) returned to New York for its 29th edition, bringing for the first time a multi-locational program featuring events at venues across Manhattan, along with a virtual facet. Live and open through February 7, the self-taught- and art brut-focused fair features exhibitors from nine countries, presented through seven in-person exhibitions and an online viewing room supported by Artlogic.
Installation view of “Small World,” on view at Shin Gallery, part of the Outsider Art Fair 2021; photo by Olya Vysotskaya, courtesy of Outsider Art Fair.
Following the success of the Paris fair’s first-ever hybrid model, this edition of OAF has been curated by Gary Panter. The concept sees host galleries partnered with visiting presenters to offer a series of thematic exhibitions, on view at four spaces across the city, concurrently with a full presentation of artworks shown digitally.
“We see this as a unique opportunity to deliver something special for our exhibitors and diehard visitors who look forward to that OAF spot on their calendars every year,” said fair owner, Andrew Edlin. “This model also propelled us to reach out and bring new dealers into the fold, like Salon 94, a longtime advocate for self-taught artists.”
Henry Darger, “At Jennie Richee For refusing to tell they are buried up to their waists /At Cedernine They are treacherously attacked by Glandellinian soldiers,” c. 1940-50 / c. 1930- 40, Double-sided watercolor, graphite and carbon tracing on paper 19 x 47 inches; courtesy of Andrew Edlin Gallery.
Locals can expect to see exhibitions like “To Be Human: The Figure in Self-Taught Art” at Hirschl & Adler, featuring works by names like Henry Darger and James Edward Deeds; a show of more than a dozen artists at Andrew Edlin Gallery titled “Figure Out: Abstraction in Self-Taught Art; three shows on view at Shin Gallery, includinga compilation of African American artists from the deep south at Shin Gallery; and Salon 94 Freemans’s showing of Aboriginal artists titled “Semiotic Terrain: Art from Australia and New Zealand.”
Virtual exhibitions include presentations like The Pardee Collection showing paintings by Emitte Hych, Pan American Projects sharing works from North, Central, and South American artists, and watercolors by the artist Mary Whitfield, shown by Phyllis Stigliano. Other online presenters include names like Art Code Space, Fleisher Ollman Gallery, Creative Growth Art Center, Carl Hammer, Yukiko Koide Presents, and Marion Scott. The annual OAF Curated Space is held at the Greenwich Village Electric Lady Studios where fairgoers will find an exhibition of the late artist and musician Daniel Johnston. “Daniel Johnston: Psychedelic Drawings” features work from The Daniel Johnston Trust, including a selection created using Magic Markers, accompanied by an essay by Panter.
Andrew Hostick, “Giraffes at Tanganyika,” Coloured pencil on mat board, 13.625 x 10.625 inches; courtesy of Western Exhibitions LLC.
Yaniel Agrafojo, “Untitled,” 2019, Pen on paper, 7 x 5 inches; courtesy of Art Code Space.
