Outsider Art – My Vintage Picks Of The Week

Outsider Art is a term coined in 1972 by art critic Roger Cardinal that is loosely applied to untrained artists whose work does not fit into the “fine” art category. That distinction is typically a reflection of the artist’s societal circumstances and is not a commentary on their talent or vision.

This week’s picks are three pieces of vintage outsider art found for you by Linda of Selective Salvage.

Folk Art Sputnik Bowling Ball Sculpture c 1970s

Why this piece stands out:  One of the characteristics of outsider art sculpture is that it is often constructed of “found” items and this piece demonstrates that perfectly. To my way of thinking, a used bowling ball impaled with metal objects from the junk drawer in the garage qualifies as an outstanding example of OOAK art.

Roy Finster “President George Bush” c 1990s

What makes it special: Like father, like son. This is the work of the son of Howard Finster, one of the artists whose name is synonymous with “outsider art”.  Born in 1916, Howard Finster was a Baptist minister who converted the swampland around his GA home into “Paradise Garden,” a folk art sculpture garden that contained over 46,000 pieces of art. His son Roy left his job as a handyman at the Chattooga County Hospital to paint full time. His style is similar to his father’s and his subjects include musicians, politicians, angels and devils. According to the seller, this piece is from a series the artist called “Jesus Saves Souls” which proves he is his father’s son.

Geometric Wooden Sculpture c 1970s

Why this caught my eye:  This 3′ tall wooden sculpture dates to the 70s but has an appealing contemporary vibe to it. It was constructed from random pieces of floor molding and decorated with paper appliques. The unknown artist may have operated outside the norm but he definitely had an eye for design. 

If you’d like to learn more, here’s an article from Intuit detailing four characteristics that separate outside art from what is considered mainstream. This genre has found its own niche among collectors as evidenced by the record sales price of $785,000 recorded at Christie’s show in 2016 for renown outsider artist William Edmondson’s sculpture entitled “Boxer.” Lastly, if you’re up for a road trip, the largest permanent collection of outsider art is housed at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore  – a venue deemed “one of the most fantastic museums in America” by CNN.

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