Art Brut and Outsider Art

Book of the Gospels, updated!

2011-07-01T07:37:00.000-07:00

Self-taught artist Laura James got quite an unusual request from the Catholic Church! Could she make 34 paintings for a new authorized version of the Book of The Gospels? Leaning on her Antiguan heritage, Laura produced a body of work that is simply breathtaking. When completed it was show at the Divinity School at Yale University to very high acclaim. This elegant book is now actively being used in the Catholic Church throughout the country. The richly embossed gold and leather cover depicting an angel and a lion on a background of green, red, brown and gold, are a mere hint of what is inside. No longer is this a simply a white man's tale......all races are depicted, and the Gospel according to Christ is greatly enhanced by the inclusion.

Laura James writes:

As a child I had a big book of Bible stories where everyone was sort of a yellow ochre color, except for the blond and blue-eyed Jesus and servants who were gray and strangely apelike. Even then I recognized that this was a racist depiction.

Later, I felt vindicated when I saw Ethiopian iconography and impressed with Ethiopia’s ancient Christian heritage… and I decided that painting in that style was a good way to show multicultural diversity in Biblical figures to a western audience.

To this end my work has been used worldwide by numerous Christian denominations and is at the forefront of the movement toward more inclusion in religious art. To me the work is traditional but still contemporary because of the time it’s being done and because it’s being done by me, a Black woman from Brooklyn, who’s never even been to Ethiopia!

Inga Moijson, From Childhood to Here

2011-06-29T15:43:00.000-07:00

Although as a child, Inga Moijson attended art lessons on the weekends, she is basically a self-taught artist. She delves deeply into her childhood for subject matter and emotions. In her bio she writes:

"To me painting is a way of expressing my innermost self. By giving it form, I give others an opportunity to share that sacred space. I allow the beholder to peer into a subconscious parallel world that coexists with ‘reality’. Naturally, there are points of contact with reality; we are all influenced by what happens around us. But my soul is strong enough and wilful enough to retain its individuality. For the outsider, it is difficult to remain indifferent. With a little luck, my work will grip him to such an extent that he will truly feel it and be able to make my world his own."

Moijson's complex, brightly painted and edgy works are sometimes confrontational, but always appealing. Their fairy tale exterior belies a deeper and profound meaning, and yet the works are accessible on many levels. You can tell yourself the story or search for that of the artist. Either way, they are fascinating paintings with a lot of staying power. The artist lives in Belgium with her husband and two talking parakeets, and has been painting full time for eight years.

Sculpture in The Garden Show

2011-06-04T12:56:00.001-07:00

The Sculpture in The Garden Show is almost here ! Mark down Saturday, June 11th and Sunday June 12th in your calendars. I'm introducing three new artists who, relying almost entirely on recycled materials, have created some remarkable works of art. And the regular crew, whom you've come to expect, will be bringing tantalizing new pieces.

William Brock will be returning from Tennessee, and his birds, seen to the right, were one of the highlights of the show last year. Wait till you see what I've collected for this year!

Birds, fish, masks, stone sculpture, robots, musicians, horses, birdhouses, and even handmade and quite quirky dolls by Sandy Mastroni will be offered. You will now be able to order handcrafted metal stands for the popular stone heads, should you want to bring them inside. Mine stay out all year and give the garden interest even in the winter. (We won't always get 64 inches of snow!)

This year, to mix things up a bit, Maishe Dickman is showing his elegant redware pottery, which has made the cover of Ceramics Monthly.

This is a fun visit for the whole family.

9am to 4pm each day

See you there!

Bev

Beverly Kaye

15 Lorraine Dr.

Woodbridge, CT

203 387 5700

Gallery: http://www.artbrut.com

Blog: http://www.BeverlyKayeGallery.blogspot.com

Sales Blog: http://www.ArtbrutAndOutsiderArt.blogspot.com

Transmutations and Metamorphosis, The Collages of Ann Irwin

2011-05-30T15:48:00.000-07:00

This announcement was just sent to me by Ann Irwin's husband, Roy Zipris, who has worked tirelessly to make this posthumous exhibition a reality. I strongly encourage everyone to make the trip to the Michener Art Museum to see this extraordinary work!

July 9 through October 16, 2011

Pfundt Gallery

In Ann Irwin's universe, the unexpected becomes commonplace and the commonplace is never exactly what you expect. Houses sprout heads and rays of fire. Hills bristle with stick figures. Trees grow ribs and skulls. These transformations can be both ominous and optimistic, witty and wise; they arose from a life committed to creativity and represented a daily triumph over adversity.

Born in 1942 in New York, Irwin grew up in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, and studied at the Boston Museum School and the Tyler School of Art. After years of travel, she settled in Bucks County where she apprenticed at the Moravian Tile Works, and began to create highly-detailed, meticulously crafted collages, using old books, fabric, and found objects. Over several decades she quietly produced an extensive body of work, rich in a deeply personal mythology that featured imaginative images of birds, houses, trees, and flowers. In spite of serious and ongoing health problems, she continued to visit her studio every day, making complex works that sometimes expressed her fears and troubles, but were often whimsical and light-hearted as well. Even during her final illness in 2005, when she was confined to a hospital bed for several weeks, she continued to draw and make collages until just a few days before she died.

Organized by the Michener Art Museum, this exhibition is drawn from the private collection of Irwin's family and samples several decades of her collage work.

Engineer, Fighter Pilot, Painter

2011-04-01T14:38:00.000-07:00

Bill Rabinovitch was an engineering student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute when we first met. Then he went on to become a fighter pilot, and then a hippy painter living in the Haight Ashbury section of San Francisco. He came to visit once and left the kitchen sink filled with unwashed paintbrushes sitting next to my baby's sterilized bottles. I was not amused.

Eventually he moved to New York and created over 2,000 hours of video archives of all the museum, high end gallery and alternative space openings in the city. This invaluable footage included interviews with the top artists, their collectors, the gallerists, the directors and the curators. This footage became fodder for Bill's cable show "ArtSeen" which proved highly popular for many years.

Our paths crossed again while waiting for admission to the Outsider Art Fair one bitterly cold winter day. I learned that he had become somewhat of a NY legend. He had just written a film called Pollack Squared which was to open at the New York Independent Film Festival. His very appealing paintings now hung in NY galleries. He composed respectable music. I forgave him for the mess in my California kitchen and we resumed our friendship. I learned that Bill also wrote some exceptional screen plays about artists, including the highly acclaimed Picasso and the Weeping Women. If you can get a copy of his films, or watch them on the internet, you will be delighted. In the meantime, here's one of my favorite Rabinovitch paintings for you to enjoy. I think I remember that shade of orange in my sink!

Mail Art Show About Jesus!

2011-01-17T12:56:00.000-08:00

Sharon Silverman is hosting a fantastic Mail Art show in Haverhill, MA from March through May 2011. The subject is The Face of Jesus and below is the information so that you, too can be part of this exhibit. Outsider artists, tattoo artists and graffiti artists are also welcome to submit your art. When this show is over, Sharon will search for another city, and another state.
She writes to me, "Since none of the work is for sale and it is shown to the public for free, I can usually get great press and large audiences....which ultimately gives both me and my fellow artists more publicity. I can't do these shows all the time, but it certainly has proved very worthwhile for me to do them once in awhile. I always choose a topic / theme that interests me as an artist or some kind of message I am interested in putting out to the world...staying true to myself gives me the energy and stamina I need to sustain moving this show around."

Here are three mail art pieces which have come from Greece, Kentucky and Belgium. Come join the fun! This will be a marvelous and powerful show!

An International MailArt Gallery Exhibition

Theme : The Face of Jesus

Medium : Open

Size : Open

All works must be sent by mail. No email entries. Artists may submit up to 4 pieces. No fee. No jury. No returns.

All works must be signed by the artist and include the artist's address or some sort of contact information.

The Gallery Exhibition will take place March-May 2011 at Angles and Art Gallery, 80 Wingate Street in Haverhill, Massachusetts. This Show is a traveling exhibition. All artists will receive printed documentation, as well as the names and addresses of all participating artists from around the world. Artists will receive publicity online, as well as through the mail. The Show will be open to the public FREE of charge. This is art for art's sake... to be enjoyed by everyone. I am not looking for your political views on Christianity or the Catholic Church. I am specifically documenting the creative ways contemporary artists / mailartists depict the Face of Jesus in the 20th & 21st Century. Do not send shock art or Jesus humor to this mailart call or artwork promoting hate or intolerance. Please pass this on and invite other artists to participate.

Send work to:

The Face of Jesus – An International MailArt Exhibition

c/o Sharon Silverman

P.O. Box 1212

Haverhill, MA 01831

USA

Huber redux......better than ever.....

2010-11-10T11:01:00.000-08:00

"The Poet's Eye" is the name of the upcoming Winter show of new works on paper by Germany's Alexandra Huber. Be prepared for a new sophistication and elegance. Large works, 25" x 29" are more involved that the usual 6" x 6" treats, and the bigger size gives the artist more room to explore her many layered references. They are highly successful images, chosen from a large portfolio, and the color is saturated and alluring. Human relationships and foibles are at their heart, and they present a fresh story at each telling. Catalogues are available. I know you will be smitten......

Using Both Sides of The Brain

2010-10-07T08:51:00.000-07:00

Saturated in color, humorous in theme, the paintings of self-taught artist Michael Busby are a complete delight. His background is unexpected. In 1997 he attended a university in London where he studied chemistry. He began painting in 2004, and this UK artist, who was raised in Hong Kong, has been heavily influenced by the Colonial melting pot of his youth. He spent his summer holidays often walking around the street and hills alone, absorbing this unique culture.

Michael continues to travel the world and has returned to Hong Kong often and thrives in it's familiarity. He acknowledges that painting is his first love and his work certainly reflects the joy he finds.

Another View Through the Glass

2010-10-04T09:34:00.000-07:00

A dance instructor in a mental institution, a fortune teller, a restaurant owner, a carpenter, all these words describe Richard Lee in various periods of his life. But this 77 year old man is best known world wide, as one of, if not the best artist who works in reverse glass painting.

All of his zoomorphic pieces, done on antique mirrors and cabinets, start with the details and then move forward. After making a black and white draft, and stripping the mirror of all it's old silver coating, he starts creating his intriguing images backwards onto the surface, painting in highlights first. He also strips the wood, covering it with unique silver, copper and/or gold leaf, making wonderful frames for his highly delightful and complex paintings.

Barefooted most of the time, Richard works, when he's not on the beach, in a small gallery hidden behind his wife Claudia's jewelry store. Most of his masterpieces are in the $10,000 to $20,000 dollar range, but the gallery was lucky enough to score a small example, under $1000, which he donated to the once yearly and highly anticipated Chicken Alley Flea Market Tag Sale. Organized by his friend, and well-known art collector and humanitarian, Olga Hirshorn, this sale is a huge draw to those in the know, who live or summer on Martha's Vineyard. Thanks to the cooperation of my entire crew of children and grandchildren, I was able to get a place quite close to the front of the line, and grabbed the Richard Lee, along with an overlooked bakelite bracelet. Oh happy day! This work will be posted on the Beverly Kaye gallery site shortly.

2010-09-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

If I were in Chicago November 4th through the 7th, 2010, this is where you could find me! The Chicago-based The Art Fair Company announced it will produce two art fairs under one roof at Chicago’s historic Navy Pier. For the first time, The Intuit Show of Folk and Outsider Art will share center stage in Festival Hall with Chicago’s much-anticipated art fair mainstay, the 17th Annual International Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair: SOFA CHICAGO 2010. One general admission ticket of $15.00 admits visitors to both fairs and their related lecture series, special exhibits and events. Both fairs kick-off with a joint Opening Night Preview in Festival Hallon Thursday, Nov. 4. The public is cordially invited to attend from 7 - 9 pm for the ticket price of $50.00. Check this website for more information: http://www.sofaexpo.com/ What an exciting combination!

(Image by Minnie Evans)

Artefacting Mumbai

2010-08-30T10:35:00.000-07:00

Dharavi... Asia's largest "slum" is known around the world as a place of extreme poverty with 600,000 people living within a square mile... a place so harsh on the eyes from the outside that its been marginalized, alienated and written off from society. It's slated to be destroyed and replaced with high-rise towers, and supposedly nothing is to be lost. These notions couldn't be further from the truth.

In November of 2010 Brooklyn-based painter/urbanist Alex White Mazzarella and videographer Casey Nolan will install themselves in Dharavi to immerse themselves in a bustling industrious economy and deep community to excavate another truth. Paintings, video, photography, and journalism created during the project's three month life will tell a story of a complex society of migrants that has lifted itself out of poverty by coming together through embracing entrepreneurship, collaboration and community. This is a Dharavi from which even the world's most cultured cities, and wealthy communities can learn from as there is nothing hiding the mechanics of the humanity here. Artistic initiatives with the community, productions and exhibitions in Mumbai, New York City, Portland and Boston, will recreate the experience of Dharavi to viewers by engaging their senses, hearts and minds.

The artists will be giving classes (photography and mixed media painting) to the Dharavi children working in the recycling industry through a partnering with ACORN's Dharavi project. Learn more about the project by visiting www.lamazza.com/artefacting-mumbai/ and follow the project on facebook by visiting www.facebook.com/pages/Artefacting-Mumbai/111968478853657?ref=ts.

"Society Under Fire", Alex White Mazzarella

2010-04-26T08:40:00.001-07:00

I highly recommend this show and this artist. Don't miss it!

ABOUT THE ARTIST Alex White-Mazzarella, Boston 1979, is trained as an economist, urban planner and artist who moved to New York City in 2008 after living in Hong Kong, Barcelona and Rome. Building upon street art and graffiti as the cave paintings of today, his intense yet whimsical work expresses perspectives on the contemporary human in an urban language derived from his current working city, New York.

ABOUT SOAPBOX GALLERY Soapbox Gallery is dedicated to providing a forum for visual artists to engage in the issues of our time and express themselves publicly without censorship. In the tradition of the humble yet mighty soapbox that encouraged free speech and played a role in the development of our social contract, provocative work can stir public debate, raise consciousness, and even spur social evolution. Too many of us despair at the lack of content in work celebrated by the ART world. Soapbox Gallery challenges artists to speak out and be relevant.

Slotin Masterpiece Auction

2010-04-14T07:14:00.000-07:00

If you are anywhere near Buford, Georgia and you love this type of art, you need to attend the Slotin Masterpiece Folk Art Auction, held May 1st and 2nd. The owners are connoisseurs of outsider and folk art and have access to top materials in the field. The stunning and very informative catalogue can be accessed on-line, or delivered to your door, and you can participate at home or in person.
In person is so much more exciting! Collectors from all over the country show up for fun, food and fabulous art, much of which can be bought at affordable prices. And once you get two or three of them focused on the same prize, the real excitement begins. There are over 1000 works of art at this sale, including pieces by Mattie Lou O'Kelley, Bryan McNutt, Sister Gertrude Morgan, Elijah Pierce, and many more. I urge you to go to the link and be sure to let me know how you do!

Birds, fish, houses and of course, folks!

2010-04-02T08:11:00.000-07:00

Mike Bailey is a self-taught MA artist , some of whose works definitely remind me in iconography and style of Rene Magritte. Mike's paintings have been shown in various alternative spaces and was recently been featured in two books, "Art in King Size Beds" and "Art of Everyday Joe". He generously takes part in various charity auctions and fundraisers every year, and can be found on eBay. Delightful work with a twist.

Self-taught photographer breaks museum barriers, and that was in the 5o's

2010-03-09T06:01:00.000-08:00

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presented a photography show, and one of Daniel Farber's reflection photographs was used as the banner advertisement. This self-taught photographer, in the leather business with his brothers, started making photographs later in his life. The results of this hobby, turned obsession, are held in over 123 museums worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art, The Smithsonian, The Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Yale University Museum, and so on.

He also had his images used in the movie "Tommy", as well as on the covers of multiple classical music albums. Farber was named one of the top ten photographers in the decade from the 1960's through 70's, and his nature photographs are in many private collections. Since he utilized the process called color separation, these vintage images are as brilliant today as they were when they were first printed.

Silhouettes of winter trees, starkly portrayed in black and white, were among his favorite subjects and silkscreens were made of several of these striking images. A small portfolio of them (image size 16" x 16", printed on Arches paper) are now available, each of which is published, and several of which are held in permanent museum collections. Contact the Beverly Kaye Gallery for more information.

Laura N. James, praying out loud

2010-01-12T13:50:00.000-08:00

With an Antiguan heritage and a love for detail and storytelling, in the year 2000, Laura N. James made a spectacular group of paintings for a Book of Gospels , for the Roman Catholic Church. There is a diverse cast of characters represented, of all shades and nationalities, and the artwork is gorgeous! But this young New Yorker also paints Jazz figures which seduce the eye with their colors and movement, and her series, "Nannies and Other Mothers" grabs at your heart. Women who leave their own families far behind to come to the United States to care for the children of others is a powerful and often neglected subject. She handles it with a grace and compassion for all involved and the paintings are luscious.

Mary Shelley, adrift in beauty

2010-01-07T11:58:00.000-08:00

Folk art at it's best is carved by New York State's, Mary Shelley. She is a self-taught, visionary artist whose work fits into several other catagories.....Naïve, Americana, whimsical, Outsider, primitive and carved craft. If fact the work is simply glorious. She manages to paint a picture story of ordinary events and she brings the wood to life with each cut. Her themes range from waitresses, diners, animals, farms, and regional life, to events on the sea, which are my personal favorites. In the Summer months you can meet her at the Ithaca Farmer's Market, carving her latest masterpiece. She is an American treasure!

Definitions, just a starting point........

2009-12-08T13:39:00.000-08:00

Both Raw Vision magazine and Wikipedia have posted this information before, but I offer it again as a good starting point for understanding the difference between many of the terms used to define outsider art.

A number of terms are used to describe art that is loosely understood as "outside" of official culture. Definitions of these terms vary, and there are areas of overlap between them. The editors of Raw Vision, a leading journal in the field, suggest that "Whatever views we have about the value of controversy itself, it is important to sustain creative discussion by way of an agreed vocabulary". Consequently they lament the use of "outsider artist" to refer to almost any untrained artist. "It is not enough to be untrained, clumsy or naïve. Outsider Art is virtually synonymous with Art Brut in both spirit and meaning, to that rarity of art produced by those who do not know its name."

Art Brut: literally translated from French means "raw art"; 'Raw' in that it has not been through the 'cooking' process: the art world of art schools, galleries, museums. Originally art by psychotic individuals who existed almost completely outside culture and society. Strictly speaking it refers only to the Collection de l'Art Brut.
Folk art: Folk art originally suggested crafts and decorative skills associated with peasant communities in Europe - though presumably it could equally apply to any indigenous culture. It has broadened to include any product of practical craftsmanship and decorative skill - everything from chain-saw animals to hub-cap buildings. A key distinction between folk and outsider art is that folk art typically embodies traditional forms and social values, where outsider art stands in some marginal relationship to society's mainstream.
Intuitive art / Visionary art: Raw Vision Magazine's preferred general terms for outsider art. It describes them as deliberate umbrella terms. However, Visionary Art unlike other definitions here can often refer to the subject matter of the works, which includes images of a spiritual or religious nature. Intuitive art is probably the most general term available. Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art based in Chicago operates a museum dedicated to the study and exhibition of intuitive and outsider art. The American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland is dedicated to the collection and display of visionary art.
Marginal art/Art singulier: Essentially the same as Neue Invention; refers to artists on the margins of the art world.
Naïve art: Another term commonly applied to untrained artists who aspire to "normal" artistic status, i.e. they have a much more conscious interaction with the mainstream art world than do outsider artists.
Neuve Invention: Used to describe artists who, although marginal, have some interaction with mainstream culture. They may be doing art part-time for instance. The expression was coined by Dubuffet too; strictly speaking it refers only to a special part of the Collection de l'Art Brut.
Visionary environments: Buildings and sculpture parks built by visionary artists - range from decorated houses, to large areas incorporating a large number of individual sculptures with a tightly associated theme. Examples include Watts Towers by Simon Rodia, Buddha Park and Sala Keoku by Bunleua Sulilat, and The Palais Ideal by Ferdinand Cheval.

Outsider Art Tour, Europe!

2009-12-02T08:57:00.000-08:00

Outsider Art Europe Tour

Intuit will host a tour of European outsider art sites March 14 - March 25, 2010, led by Randy M. Vick, Associate Professor of Art Therapy at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

The focus of this trip will be to visit the historic clinical psychiatry collections and museums as well as private collections, contemporary workshops for artists with disabilities, and artist environments.

Secure your spot today by contacting Kevin Mulcahy.

*This is a top notch institution and the trip will be very exciting for lovers of artbrut artworks. This is the very kind of work my gallery is so pleased to represent.

Amazing find, tucked into a book

2009-11-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

On an antiquing trip along the CT coastline, I happened upon a small store that I almost neglected. But a wise teacher once told me that unexpected finds sit waiting to be discovered in the most unlikely places. As I was thumbing through an old book, twenty one small drawings fell out! All were written on the backs of letters between two family members , and dated 1866. They were obviously made by small, but extremely imaginative children, and they were clearly worth much more than the $10 price tag on the book. So I made my way up to the dealer, showed my find, and we negotiated a new price for the lot. This all happened years ago, but these small childhood drawings remain one of my favorite collections. The one with the alligator looks like a Traylor to me!

Master Weathervane maker.....Anthony Holland

2009-11-03T13:49:00.000-08:00

Travis Tuck made a weathervane for the movie Jaws, back in the day. It was stolen from the set and he had to make another. Stephen Spielberg became a fan and added one to his personal collection years later. Then Anthony Holland came to Martha's Vineyard and became Travis's apprentice and together they created some of the most famous weathervanes in the country. The Fall issue of Martha's Vineyard Style magazine has done a spectacular article about Tony Holland's work. Get yourself a copy. It'll be a great read and the pages of photos are stunning.

The Museum of Everything opens in London

2009-10-31T07:21:00.000-07:00

Secrets — you love them. Telling them, hearing them, keeping them — who cares? — as long as something is revealed. We’ve got a new one for you. Opening today is The Museum of Everything — a space dedicated to secret art. The temporary venue showcases paintings, sculptures and curiosities by unintentional artists. Like Fleury Joseph Crépin, a plumber, miner and spiritualist who received a calling to paint 300 temples. And the Indian road worker who created ceramics from recycled remnants of his village.

Although rarely seen by the public, such work is often used as inspiration by mainstream artists, many of whom have curated the inaugural exhibition.

But before you get a peek, you’ll have to find the anonymous black door of a former dairy and recording studio hidden down a back alleyway in Primrose Hill. Word is out. Art is in. The Museum of Everything, Sharpleshall Street, NW1 8YN (020 7957 5325 or museumofeverything.com).

Photo and article: Courtesy of The Museum of Everything

Inky Wings equals unparalleled art from England........

2009-10-19T14:02:00.000-07:00

No one is better than Judith McNichol. There I said it. Her birdhouses are random and spectacular. Her found metal objects are so damn appealing. Her drawings are obsessive.......really obsessive and wonderful. Some of the larger ones.....six or seven feet long, allow you to choose a small space and get lost in the tiny detail. Back up and see that detail take on a larger voice in another form, back up again and it becomes a piece of an even larger puzzle. I am stunned by the intricacy and beauty of her work, and will someday try to photograph a huge piece which is presently rolled in a large tube in the closet. It would take up an entire wall, and deserves to do so! But I wouldn't have windows to the outside anymore.....only to the inside of a great artist.

Cynthia Rogers, a recycler of memories.......

2009-10-13T12:38:00.000-07:00

Assemblage constructions are what Cynthia Rogers creates from "found objects, juxtaposed in surprising ways, subverting reason and bringing to the forefront subconscious associations, meanings and metaphors that express (Cynthia's) response to contemporary life."

This California artist has quite a vocabulary, made up of simple treasures and bits of flotsam and jetsam which are familiar and yet a little strange at the same time. She spent endless hours as a child, beach-combing, in hopes of finding the illusive and colorful hand blown glass globes used in the Sea of Japan in fishing nets, and on her walks she collected the sea's offerings, as many of us have done. But, instead of just existing as a collection decorating a shelf, some of these items have found their way into her assemblages. Cynthia has returned to these roots and adds to her bounty "discarded objects once loved, now abandoned. It is a kind of consumer recycling program, where psychologically, all things are considered." Click on the title link and explore her site, which is filled with wondrous surprises.

Jail and Museum do not usually end up in the same sentence....

2009-10-08T11:42:00.000-07:00

Pedro Martin DeClet has come a very long way since his stint as head of the Latin Kings gang in the CT prison system. His works are now on display in the American Visionary Art Museum's newest show, Life, Liberty & The Pursuit of Happiness, curated by Roger Manley. Declet's Portrait de Genocide honors past martyrs in both the American Indian and Hispanic culture and is a powerful work with it's bleeding pictograph placed center stage. In another room is a hand-made book filled with paintings and paperwork which reflect his disavowal of the infamous gang, along with an altered book, a cross sculpture and a canvas carrying bag sporting a self-portrait. There is also a construction called El Philosopher which is made up of a time clock together with time cards hand painted by the artist. Pedro Martin DeClet is a man who does not look back, but rather reflects on a positive future. I thank Roger Manley for having an open mind and including these important works in his stellar show. It will run for close to a year and is worth the visit to the Inner Harbor of Baltimore, where the AVAM sits like a dazzling crowning jewel.
Photos courtesy of Roger Manley, curator

Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness......AVAM

2009-09-28T10:06:00.000-07:00

Judge for yourselves, the ART of Chris Mars

2009-09-04T17:16:00.000-07:00

I'm simply giving you a quote and posting three works......the art of Chris Mars speaks volumes for itself. Do click on the title and spend some time ruminating on his works. It might not be your style, but boy, is he talented.
"From my hands, my mission: To free the oppressed; to champion the persecuted, and the submissive; to liberate through revelation the actualized Self in those proposed by some to have no self at all. It’s in every single one of us, somewhere underneath that word on our chest.
In my hands, my version: All art is political in some sense, be it through conformity, reflection, propaganda or rebellion. My paintings are rallies and trials, photographs of a moment when Truth was made public, and Mercy known.
Question why a villain is villainized, a victim martyred. Ask why a group is demonized, and the motives for control. See for yourself what the truth looks like in your hands. Dig it up and hold it for a while. This work you see, it’s my Truth. But please don’t take my word for it."

With pen in hand.......

2009-08-27T06:37:00.000-07:00

Johannesburg artist, Charles Munro's work is complex and humorous, strange, yet strangely appealing. Judge for yourself.....

With love from Bonwit Teller.......

2009-07-30T08:22:00.000-07:00

First collect engravings.....the older the better. Then dissect them and place into various categories. Then assemble them into fanciful collages. Then comes the hand painting. Then the sponged mats. Finally the flea market frames and the tongue in cheek titles. Or maybe that came first. Anyway, this is the art of Anthony Guyther. His works have been seen in fashion windows in NY since the 1960's, and now they decorate the walls of many collectors who always have to have more than one. He is a master at what he does, an artist's artist. And he is still going strong. The collage illustrated here is "Birdman and His Birddog", which utilizes 9 engravings. More of his work can be seen at Beverly Kaye Gallery and by clicking on the title.

The seductive colors of Helga Hornung

2009-07-08T06:43:00.000-07:00

Another German artist of note is Helga Hornung. A famous children's book author and illustrator, as well as a formidable artist in the gallery and museum world, her saturated colors and lyrical style seduce the viewer. After three weeks of rain, these paintings certainly brightened my day.

Alexandra Huber in America Show

2009-06-20T14:30:00.000-07:00

The long awaited "Alexandra Huber in America " show is now open at the gallery in CT and on-line here

I met with her German agent in New York recently, and hand-picked these powerful and hopeful pieces which fit the climate of the day. Huber's newest museum catalogues are also available, and the gallery has a large portfolio of this international star's works. Dozens of works on the website will satisfy the hungriest of appetites for Huber's mesmerizing art.

Rooms of the imagination....

2009-06-09T06:25:00.000-07:00

Roger Hinds is creating the most intricate and engaging assemblages. A Rooms of the Mind series keeps on getting better and better.

The real Mckoy comes to CT......

2009-05-10T14:20:00.000-07:00

Karl Mckoy's assemblage faces are filled with elements that grab your attention, and keep it. Strong portraits that stare you in the face and sorta make you want to look away.......and yet you don't. Very artbrut in feel, loaded with texture, sand, paper, wire, grids, photographs, stones, and so on. When the Outsider Art fair was at the Puck Building in New York City, this self-taught artist used to stand, braving the frigid Winter nights, and sell his pieces on the street, to collectors who would save some of their cash each year, to acquire a new example of his work. He had a very loyal following. But then the show moved to another location, which forbids street "vendors", and the collectors had to go without. Well, now his work is available here, and more is on it's way. I am thrilled to have this powerful work at the gallery.

Button Girl comes to sculpture show......

2009-05-04T15:42:00.000-07:00

Sandy Mastroni's front door opens and I am entranced and delighted each and every time. Although I was there for new paintings to post on the gallery blog, several little figures popped into sight. Button Girl won my heart right away, and will be offered on a table of "smalls" at the 16th annual Sculpture in The Garden Show the first weekend in June. So will the wee ballerina. Oddities are always welcome here.

Sew fine.......Carol Es

2009-04-22T17:16:00.000-07:00

Carol Es is an artist whose works reflects an ongoing struggle with the past as well as success with the present. She often hid in the bowling alley and created art, instead of attending school. She was later influenced by work she did in a sewing factory, and often employs fabric, patterns and thread with her newer works. But this earlier piece is 30" x 40", mixed media on paper and is a prime example of her art. It's called "Poor Little Angels" and is $2500. Carol's handmade books have won her national acclaim and are part of permanent museum collections. A multi-talented artist.

Ronald Sloan revealed.........

2009-04-09T06:51:00.000-07:00

For over 40 years, this artist has been obsessively painting his interior life. He is a superb storyteller and although very strong, his images demand examination. Day books, paintings on paper, board and canvas, as well as "mail art" are part of the huge portfolio at the gallery. Click on the title and you will be brought to several pages of his early work. Pour a glass of wine, sit down and enjoy.

Moon over Miami?

2009-04-04T09:47:00.000-07:00

In searching through some of the stuff under the bed, I rediscovered this goody from long, long ago. It's full bodied, probably plaster of paris or light weight wood, hand painted on both sides, and about 24" tall. The creator remains anonymous and this delightful moon will be posted on my site for sale in about a month, but you can have it now for $100. This is my version of spring cleaning!

Art, the saving grace

2009-03-27T06:32:00.000-07:00

Amy Myers runs an art program at the Living Museum Art Center at Harbor House in San Pedro California, where 250 people live with debilitating mental challenges. Some of the residents are creating very appealing art, which can be purchased through this program. All of the money goes to the artists, and both they and their creations are so very worthy. Do stop in to see then if you are ever in the area.

Here are two works by Susan Gibins, a Geisha painting and one called Police Violence. Watts Tower is lovingly done by Osbourn Turner.

Oodles of doodles.......

2009-03-24T06:08:00.000-07:00

As it succinctly says on his website," Ian Pyper creates drawings; he induces visions. Pyper uses marker, watercolor and paper, like a caveman used burnt wood, spit and a hard rock wall, to show us clearly what he sees." This entirely self-taught and outsider artist from the UK wows his audience with a cacophony of color and line, dots and doodles, and wins an ever larger audience each time. Paper saturated with watercolor and ink mesmerize the eye and spirit alike. I like!

Auction of Outsider Art, Folk Art and more.....

2009-03-21T14:07:00.000-07:00

Do you crave seeing great Outsider, Artbrut, and Folk Art, all under one roof? Well, Steve and Amy Slotin are presenting one of their amazing Folk Art Auctions on March 28th in Buford, GA. Their catalogue is on-line and this couple are very well respected in the art and auction community. They also put out a feast which they simply call breakfast, before the fun begins. I see face jugs galore, furniture, carvings and really interesting paintings from well know collections. Take a look for yourselves, and enjoy! Well worth the trip!

Outsider Art shown at German Fair

2009-03-15T06:57:00.000-07:00

Here is a view of the Alexandra Huber paintings hanging at the Artfair in Karlsruhe in Germany last week. Despite the shaky economy, her work sold very well, an encouraging sign!

Are we blue? Our world is too! Outsider Art

2009-03-09T07:45:00.000-07:00

We are not the only ones feeling blue these uncertain days. The earth that we live on, that supports us in every way, is also blue. Alexandra Huber's "Man on a Blue World", my title, not hers, is a wonderful depiction of the state we are in. Her smalls (6" x 6") capture our daily thoughts, musings and dreams in a charming childlike way, filled with adult sensibility. Think Dubuffet, Basquiat. Alexandra just returned from the famous Artfair in Karlsruhe, Germany, and in her words, " it was very successful, despite the crisis." Click on the title and see many more of these little gems. $450

"Magic Place"......New Huber images soon

2009-03-07T12:37:00.000-08:00

Although her German agent decided to withdraw from the Outsider Art Fair, he faithfully delivered to me a cache of new and very exciting works of art by Alexandra Huber. New York fans of this exciting artist will not be disappointed with the variety of work selected. The art is being photographed and will be posted soon on the web site http://www.artbrut.com which is the address for Beverly Kaye Gallery. Two larger mixed media pieces, and ten of the 6"x 6" smalls will be added to the extensive portfolio of Huber works represented here. Alexandra remains one of Europe's top self-taught artists, and I will post her latest shows and catalogues when the new works are ready to go public. This little gem, called "Magic Place" is a great example of what is to follow.

Moroccan storyteller and artist

2009-03-06T07:10:00.000-08:00

The stark, compelling images of Algerian, Moroccan, and American artist, Fethi Megelli, are are cross between dreamlike folk tales and political pronouncements. This talented and highly trained artist creates works which wrap them selves around your brain.
In this intriguing piece called "Other Realities" two mesmerizing images are printed on the same piece of arches paper. Each powerful in their own right, together they are magic. From a private collection, 17" x 12", $500

Self-taught art, Acoma Pueblo pottery

2009-03-04T14:14:00.000-08:00

Lucy Lewis was a matriarchal Pueblo Indian artist, whose works are in museums across the nation. She lived and worked in Acoma Pueblo and brought new interest to old designs such as the lightening jar and the bear heartline. Her pottery was graceful and much admired, and all her daughters, as well as her son Andrew, became potters in their own right. Nieces followed along in the family tradition and some of the finest and thinnest walled pieces bear the Lewis name. Click on the title and you will see more of this collection, which I hand picked in the 1980's to 1990's, during memorable visits with the family. Dolores and Emma Lewis were gracious hosts and thanks to them I was able to meet Lucy and watch her painstakingly decorate some of her final pots.

Pedro Martin DeClet, homage to heros

2009-02-21T07:42:00.000-08:00

The collage "Portrait de Genocide", a powerful statement by Pedro Martin DeClet, is typical of his works which examine his personal struggles and those of society. He first started exploring art while incarcerated, and a liberal prison system encouraged his efforts and allowed him to leave the premisses to attend his first show, beyond prison walls. This monumental work honors fallen heros, Latino as well as American Indian. The red pictograph of the human spirit bleeds for them and their sacrifices. Much of Pedro's work is in diary form, and he excels at collage as well as assemblages.
His prison years and his involvement with the Latin Kings are far behind him, only occasionally resurfacing as fodder for his art. Pedro is exquisitely aware of the art world, and the poetry and prose of the most renowned authors and wordsmiths; however, his work is not at all derivative. It is purely his own vision, his own pain. Although completely self-taught, his frequent use of both Latin and Spanish text within his work gives it a unique sophistication. His self-portraits reveal him as he is, sweet, moody, confrontational, scarred, and hopeful. $2500

Jesse Reno paints "Outside the Lines"

2009-02-18T14:24:00.000-08:00

Portland artist Jesse Reno is not only a successful self-taught artist, but also a musician and poet, whose large works will be seen in Mexico City at a gallery show, opening very soon. "Outside The Lines" is one of many of his art books which have been published. Although he suffers from severely diminished eyesight, his paintings sing with their extraordinary colors and fanciful shapes. An earlier work on paper, (11" x 14"), which has been published in Raw Vision Magazine, is available at the gallery. It's title is "Spirit Goat" and it well represents the unique style of this highly talented and revered artist.
$400

New Show for Huber

2009-02-14T11:34:00.000-08:00

Galerie Horst Dietrich is showing Alexandra Huber a group show in Berlin this month. She will have a one-person-show starting in the beginning of March in the artfair in Karlsruhe. Her work hit the art scene in 1993 and has been a hit at both my gallery and at the Outsider Art Fair in NY. If you missed Basquiat and Dubuffet, this year is a prime time to add to your collection the work of this great up and coming artist. Alexandra's work is appealing and fresh, and is present in many private as well as public collections.

The Beverly Kaye Gallery is open......

2009-02-13T08:03:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the gallery in Woodbridge, Connecticut, where you can examine first hand all the works offered for sale on this site. Because it's a private space, a phone call ahead of time will ensure someone will be here to meet you. We have portfolios from emerging as well as established artists, including the fields of Outsider art, Artbrut, Folk art, American Indian art and photography. The Sculpture in the Garden Show will be coming up soon, and an invitation will appear on this site. We look forward to meeting you!

Outsider Artist, Daniel Farber

2009-02-10T12:28:00.000-08:00

His business was leather, but his love was photography. On his gravestone are the words "Nature is my God" and his camera is carved over the shoulder of the stone, as if resting there a moment. Daniel Farber's works are in the permanent collection of 123 museums world wide, and he had numerous one man shows. Although he was self-taught, his "Reflections" show received rave reviews at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY and his images appeared in American Heritage, Popular Photography, Modern Photography, and Country Beautiful magazines, as well as on many record album covers. Farber was a prodigious photographer whose work is still widely collected. More than 1,400 dye transfer color prints, 34,000 gelatin silver prints, and 14,000 negatives produced by him are in the collections of U.S. museums and institutions. Vintage images and his book, "Reflections of a Trail Taken" are available through this gallery.

Outsider Artist, Mr. X....Slaveship

2009-02-09T16:29:00.000-08:00

Gerald Thornton saw this image of slaves crammed like sardines in the hold of a slave ship, and the image stuck with him for years. The cruelty and absurdity of the entire idea of slavery and the actual floor plan of the ship plan made him sick. Finally he decided to enlarge the image and make a silk screen of it, originally planned as an addition of 100. He wanted the figures of the men to be large enough to capture our attention and make us take a long hard look at our history. Only a handful of these pieces, in fact, were ever made. If you hold the image upright, the ship resembles a bomb. Hmmm.
"Slave Ship", ink on cardboard, 14" x 45", signed Mr. X , #5/100
$500 plus shipping

Outsider artist, Tom Breen

2009-02-08T17:20:00.001-08:00

In honor of the National Black Fine Art Show next weekend in NY, I'm posting this articulated carving of a Black man by New England artist, Tom Breen. Tom is a picker and resells odds and ends of a million different types of items at flea markets in the Northeast. He spends his spare time making these wonderful folk art assemblages. This figure is 20" x 4" and is made from wood, fur, and paint. The arms and legs move and the figure can stand or sit, as desired. Very appealing. $600

Oswaldo Guayasamin, Hero from Ecuador

2009-02-06T13:08:00.000-08:00

This signed piece was created by the world renown Ecuadorian artist Oswaldo Guayasamin who died in 1999. Guayasamín used his paintings and sculptures to combat "cruelties and injustices of a society that discriminates against the poor, the indigenous, the afro-ecuadorian and the weak" explains the Guayasamín Foundation, which is a museum dedicated to his works. He never belonged to a political party, but rallied in support of Castro and against the "abuses and aggressions of powerful and imperialistic countries".
He and I corresponded with each other for a brief time, and he generously gifted me this lovely example of his work. The artist was famous for his series illustrating the injustices forced upon mankind and the consequential sorrow. The way he portrayed expressive faces and hands is reminiscent of the works of the late American artist, Ben Shahn. This powerful watercolor measures approx. 13" x 17.5 " and is on good quality paper. A watercolor of this size was auctioned off at Christie's in 1995 for $4600. Asking $2500

Welcome to my world........

2009-02-05T11:44:00.000-08:00

I'm a private dealer in Outsider and Artbrut Art and have over 400 images and supporting text on-line. The actual gallery is in Woodbridge, CT and is open by appointment or by chance. The pieces I have chosen to represent are top examples from each of my artists, all of whom have been placed in private as well as museum collections. During the year I deal mainly with works on paper, canvas and board, but in June I hold the annual Sculpture in the Garden show which transforms the property into a dazzling display of recycled metal, stone, and wood, reformed into giant sunflowers, dancers, musicians, horses, robots, dragonflies and garden whimsies. The gallery has been awarded as a Forbes Magazine "Best of the Web", and "Incredible Art Site of the Week" for months running!
Welcome to my world!

Outsider Art by Harper

2009-02-05T10:15:00.000-08:00

Ann Harper is an accomplished clinician and advocate for children, besides being a crackerjack artist. Her paintings are dark, deep, and fascinating, her imagination, boundless. This spectacular painting, titled from a line from Credidimus Jovem Ragnari by James Russell Lowell is called "Pretty Dears". The line is " A doll stuffed out with hopes and fears, too homely for us pretty dears."
The little girl protectively clings to her doll, as they both seem to wait for an uncertain future. The painting has gallery wrapped edges, not requiring framing, and measures 24" x 36" x 2". The price is $1650. The smoothly textured black background does not reflect the glare of this photo. Many of Ann Harpers paintings sell in galleries for $4000 to $5000, so this is a very reasonable price. A gallery favorite!

Outsider Artist, Maurice Hansen, Jr.

2009-02-03T11:48:00.000-08:00

Maurice Hansen was a brilliant artist and friend, living valiantly with schizophrenia. He produced hundreds of painting, drawings, and books, and died way too soon. This painting was created after Maurice read about a homeless man who froze to death on the streets on NY, partly because someone thoughtlessly threw water out a window and soaked him on a frigid December night. The painting is entitled "Death of Lazarus" and has a folk aesthetic in pastel shades, despite the tragic meaning. Hansen's paintings are in major collections in the US and after his discovery, by gallerist Chris Butler, he celebrated his first one man show at the Aetna Galleries in Hartford, CT. Oil on canvas, 36' x 48" $1600.

Outsider Artist, a New Orleans favorite

2009-02-01T07:13:00.000-08:00

Roy Ferdinand was a beloved New Orleans artist who had great compassion for the arts and the people in his community. His paintings often portrayed the street life he knew, including the seamy side of the town. In this well composed piece, he depicts a man, taking a moment on his porch for reflection and a beer, watched over by his alert and trusty dog. Last year a presentation of the artist's works were the topic of a lecture at the American Museum of Folk Art in NY. For fans of the late Mr. Ferdinand, this is an easy piece to live with. It's mixed media on paper (26" x 32") in a beautiful maple frame, and very well priced at $700.
Recently released from a private collection.

Painting outside the lines

2009-01-25T08:04:00.000-08:00

My little Grandson shows his art-dealer Grammy Bev his Red Period. When that Period is washed up, undaunted, he proceeds to his Blue Period. Persistence and creativity go a long way in the makings of a great artist. NFS

Gilles Manero, Outsider Artist of record

2009-01-24T14:16:00.000-08:00

Gilles Manero was discovered by the curator of the Musee de la Creation Franche a Begles France, which he frequently visited. When the curator saw Gilles's alternative world, painted on old vinyl classical music records, he was given his first show. Recently, at the Outsider Art Fair in NY City, these records were fetching $2200. His style is flawless and his color choices are reminiscent of fine Renaissance paintings. He also makes collage and mixed media works. The pieces here, "Queen at the Bonfire" and "Untitled" are each $1650.

Outsider Art, Recycled Metal Sculpture

2009-01-22T14:41:00.000-08:00

Here are two sides of a large-scale sculptural work in progress by Connecticut's Joe DeMarco. A full story about him and his other amazing works are at my other blog
Be sure to visit both!

Outsider Artist, Mr. X....again

2009-01-19T14:19:00.000-08:00

In honor of Martin Luther King Day, I'm also posting "Flag Funeral" by "X" (Gerald Thornton). Mixed media on cardboard with a metal frame. 14" x 30" and $325

Outsider Artist, Mr. X

2009-01-19T13:53:00.000-08:00

This powerful painting called "Remembering Rodney King" was created by an African American self-taught artist whose name is Gerald Thornton. He signs all his work "X" because he wants to remain as nameless as the slaves who were torn from the lives they knew, captured and brought to this country. The painting is 20" x 30" and is mixed media on cardboard, in a metal frame. $300
What better time to purchase a painting such as this!

Outsider Artist, Alexandra Huber large format

2009-01-16T13:38:00.000-08:00

This mixed media work called "Grossen Ideen" (a big idea for such a small worm) is 19.5" x 25.5" and $1800. Alexandra just had a one woman show in NY, and her paintings are the subject of several catalogues and museum shows. You can see some of her smalls in a previous post, but this is in answer to collectors who wanted to see larger works. Under the Beverly Kaye Gallery link here you can see a large body of these pieces and more will be added later this year.

Folk Art painting by Paul Pitt

2009-01-16T13:07:00.000-08:00

"Barn Raising at the Yellow Farmhouse" is a stunning oil on canvas painting (35.5" x 25.5" framed) by this self-taught CT painter, whose works hang in many private collections as well as Museums. Go to
my galley to read more and see other examples of Paul Pitt's work.

This piece illustrated a magazine article about the communitarian business of Paul Newman (Newman's Own) and is a stunning work of art. Each of Pitt's paintings has an unusual signature. Look for two running boys, one black and one white, one of whom is always wearing the ever present red scarf. $1600

Self-taught collage, Kathy Carvellas

2009-01-15T07:57:00.000-08:00

This lovely collage was created by California artist Kathy Carvellas, and I will be happy to put you in touch with her directly for it's sale. The title is "The Diver" and is 15" wide x 12.5" high (framed -shadowbox) $375.00 This work is proof that a great piece of art can still be had at an affordable price.

Outsider Artist, Alexandra Huber

2009-01-11T13:56:00.000-08:00

Alexandra Huber of Germany is known for her exuberant mixed media collages. Here are three small, 6" x 6" each and priced at $450. More of these pieces, along with larger works can be seen here

Self-taught artist, Willard James, Sr.

2009-01-05T14:38:00.000-08:00

Willard James creates memory paintings that harken back to his life in the South. "Steelee Man" (16" x 20", acrylic on board) bring to mind those marble games of our youth, where the goal was to win the largest marble, as well as the largest amount of marbles. This work is from the gallery's private collection and is priced at $650.

Self-taught Artist, Sandy Mastroni

2009-01-05T13:40:00.000-08:00

Sandy Mastroni's enigmatic little painting "My Cat Knows",( 9" x 12" acrylic on board), was supposed to have been published in the new Raw Vision Outsider Art Sourcebook. But the JPEG got misplaced somewhere between here and England, so another image took it's place. This little gem is still a favorite of the gallery and is for sale for $200.