On January 18, 2018 - an all time record of 2,500 fair-goers attended the opening day of the 26th edition of the Outsider Art Fair in New York City.
The Outsider Art Fair is the original art fair specific to self-taught art created outside the mainstream. Founded in 1993 by Sandy Smith, OAF soon became a critical and commercial success. Recognized for its maverick spirit, the fair has played a vital role in building a passionate collecting community and for expanding the awareness and recognition of self-taught art in the mainstream art world.
This highly anticipated art show specializes in showcasing the works of self-taught artists from around the world. No longer on the fringe, Outsider art has changed the shape of modern and contemporary art and developed a thriving art market of its own.
The Outsider Art Fair is the original art fair specific to self-taught art created outside the mainstream. Founded in 1993 by Sandy Smith, OAF soon became a critical and commercial success. Recognized for its maverick spirit, the fair has played a vital role in building a passionate collecting community and for expanding the awareness and recognition of self-taught art in the mainstream art world.
This highly anticipated art show specializes in showcasing the works of self-taught artists from around the world. No longer on the fringe, Outsider art has changed the shape of modern and contemporary art and developed a thriving art market of its own.
A select group of tastemakers from the art, culture, fashion, and entertainment fields attended an early preview at the The Metropolitan Pavilion. They included artists Maurizio Cattelan, Hugo Guinness, Peter McGough, Brian Donnelly - KAWS - and Josh Smith; collectors Marty & Rebecca Eisenberg, Adam Lindemann, Bob Greenberg and Eric Eisner as well as Curator Massimiliano Gioni, among others.
"The energy is incredible – it's started early and hasn't let up. It feels like people are more engaged than any other year, and what to learn about the art. We sold a major collection right at the beginning of the afternoon, and expect sales continue," said J Compton, who presented a collection of Japanese children's drawings from World War II.
"From the opening minute of the fair, there has been a stampede towards our booth", said James Barron, who presented a never-before-seen collection of paintings by Janet Sobel. "It's inspiring to experience the enthusiasm from everyone for this artwork", said first-time exhibitor, Jennifer Lauren, on her presentation of ceramics by Shinichi Sawada – also the artist's first exhibition in the United States.
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| Karen Patterson |
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| Josh Smith |
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| Alina Baikova |
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| Charlotte Bonstrom, Dara Tomanovich |
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| Fair Atmosphere - Chris Byrne Booth |
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| Jordan Blackmore, Andi Potamkin |
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| Young Paris, Vajra Kingsley |
Guests this year included:
Corice Arman**, Alina Baikova, Brian Belott**, Lawrence & Elyse Benenson, Enrico Bonetti**, Lolita Cros**, Bruno Decharme, Peter Doroshenko, Cheryl Dunn**, Harvey Fierstein, Jaime Frankfurt & Pamela Hanson, Vincent Fremont, Noah Horowitz, Alex Katz**, Dominic Kozerski**, Christina Kruse, Conrad de Kwiatkowski**, Sydie Lansing, Jean-Pierre & Rachel Lehmann, Tomas Maier, Paul Mathieu**, Joseph Moinian, Young Paris, Karen Patterson, Jane Rosenblum, Aurel Schmidt**, Andres Serrano**, Todd Solondz**, Antoine Verglas, Jamian Juliano-Villani**, and Pauline Willis
**Denotes Artists
Partners and Sponsors for this year's event include:
God’s Love We Deliver, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Louie and Chan, Tito's, Sixpoint Brewery, Leblon Cachaça, Ace Hotel New York, Hyperallergic, American Folk Art Museum, National Gallery of Art, High Museum of Art Atlanta, American Visionary Museum, Bennington Museum Art History Innovation
