Outsider Art Fair 2021 Brings Multi-Venue Format to New York

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.”

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.