the best of the outsider art fair

this week in outsider art also includes photos from the maria prymachenko exhibit, art brut from iran, christie's outsider art auction and a shout out to women artists

Mar 10, 2024

THIS WEEK IN OUTSIDER ART

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Outsider Art Fair

The greatest medicine cabinet ever, found in a barn in Vermont as seen at Aarne Anton’s booth

Brilliant vase from Gayle Uyagaqi Kabloona via Feheley Fine Arts

This 11-year-old from 1870 is one of my new favorite artists of all-time, as seen at the Wilsonville booth

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Duff Lindsay of Lindsay Gallery had many unique works by Elijah Pierce at his booth, naturally since he would visit Pierce at his barbershop when he was younger — this one here called “Devil” was a treat to see in person finally

Quite easily the biggest and the greatest work by Martín Ramírez I have ever seen, Mr. Ollman of Fleisher/Ollman, as seen at their booth tended to agree

One of the handful of the highlights of the fair, “CC’s” rugs

One of the “never before seen works” by Maurice "Le Grand Le Sueur" Sullins, via *Hana Pietri Gallery* — Paul Klee's Golden Moon (1975) // Acrylic on Canvas; 30 x 40 inches

**JIMMY LEE SUDDUTH** Untitled (Camel and Snake) (1983) // Mud and paint on wood; 26×27 inches via *The* *Ruffed Grouse Gallery*

Benji Anderson from *The Elephant Gallery* in Nashville

Maria Prymachenko: Glory to Ukraine at The Ukrainian Museum

Somehow, I choose this as my favorite work seen by the brilliant Ukrainian folk artist Maria Prymachenko

A painted plate featured alongside early works by Maria Prymachenko as well as a few textile works

One of nearly one hundred absolutely jaw-dropping works by Maria Prymachenko

see more photos here

Christie’s Outsider Art Auction

These two Felipe Benito Archuleta pigs, one bigger and one smaller than the one in my personal collection, are off to a ranch in Texas

All hail Thornton Dial and this gigantic masterpiece

William Edmondson’s “Fox”, which sold for $300,000 at auction with a Minnie Evans work in the background, which sold for $50,000

Cavin-Morris Gallery: Art Brut from Iran

Ricco/Maresca’s Winter Party

Brilliant William Hawkins, one of many in the Ricco/Maresca collection

Want to see nearly all my photos from the Outsider Art Fair? Head over to folkartwork.art to see all photos, videos, and more from a busy weekend in NYC.

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FEATURED ARTIST OF THE WEEK

**JAMES ASH** Monoplane (c. 2009-2021) // Acrylic on wood; 33 x 21 inches courtesy the artist’s daughter Anna Ash

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WATCHING AND READING

Here are a few things I’ve been watching this past week:

Here are a few things I’ve been reading this past week:

MEPAINTSME

Wighead, from Épouvantes voluptueuses, 1935

Between 1932 and 1936 one of the most sought-after illustrators of femdom and whipping titles for ‘discerning gentlemen’ frequenting the specialist bookshops of Paris went by the name of ‘Wighead’. There appear to be eleven books illustrated by the artist of this name, with no indication of his or her true identity. Four were published by Éditions du Co…

10 months ago · MEPAINTSME

OH WORD?

Me and art critic Jerry Saltz enjoying the rugs of Iranian self-taught artist “CC”

“Great to run into you! Keep up the great work! Thank you for all you do.” — Jerry Saltz, to me

Outsider Art Fair 2024: All The Highlights, Photos + Videos and More!

Being at the Outsider Art Fair for my third straight year now was a thrill and a privilege. The warmth, the joy, and the kindness from everyone at the fair, from patrons and staff to artists and gallerists. It seemed like everyone had a smile on their face the entire time! It couldn’t have been a more enjoyable experience. There is something so comforting about the artwork and artists who participate in the Outsider Art Fair, and I hope everyone has the chance to make it there one day.

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Not only did my beautiful wife and I attend the Outsider Art Fair, but we were luckily enough to check out the Christie’s Outsider Art Auction, attend Ricco/Maresca’s Winter Party, see the incredible Iranian Art Brut exhibit at Cavin-Morris Gallery, and make the pilgrimage to the Ukrainian Museum to see the Maria Prymachenko: Glory to Ukraine show. New York City is neat!

There are so many great people I met for the first time and was able to see and talk with again and again. I hopefully acknowledged everyone here in this nice little recap of the event I put together, but I wanted to give the absolute warmest and sincerest thank you to Katie and Lucy with SAGE Studio & Gallery for their generosity in New York City and for doing the outstanding work they do, and the extraordinary artists I was able to meet — Woodley White, Chris Cody, and Mr. Pipecleaner himself, Montrel Beverly.

Montrel Beverly of SAGE Studio giving me a “pipe cleaner jacket” hug at the Outsider Art Fair

Please enjoy all the photos and videos of the awe-inspiring artwork from the Outsider Art Fair and all the art travels last weekend.

And if you’re curious to know a little more about my absolute favorite works of the weekend, sign up for the B-B-Bonus “This Week in Outsider Art” newsletter, which comes out every Wednesday morning.

outsider art fair recap

SHOUT OUT

**Nellie Mae Rowe**, Peace and Happiness (1979) // Crayon and marker on paper via Smithsonian American Art Museum

Happy Women’s History Month!

It’s March. We just wrapped up Black History Month and are now entering Women’s History Month. On Friday, International Women’s Day, I shared on Instagram ten works of art from the Smithsonian American Art Museum by some of my favorite female artists of all time.

I am also fortunate and honored to be able to work with seven incredibly talented artists — Dinah Hanson-Carrillo, Gabrielle K Brown, Jackie Bradshaw, Lindsay Carraway, Melody Jean Moulton, Reneesha Mccoy, and Sarah Lee — whose work is available for purchase in the FolkArtwork Collective. You can see more of their works on Instagram or in the FolkArtwork Collective shop.

**Minnie Evans**, Design Made at Airlie Gardens (1967) // Oil and mixed media on canvas mounted on paperboard via Smithsonian American Art Museum

While I will always do my best to highlight women artists regularly, today, I wanted to highlight five of my favorite artists who happen to be women and make folk or outsider art. It is hard to pick just five. But the National Museum of Women in the Arts challenges people to name five Female Artists, so if you could add a few of the names below to the likes of Frida Kahlo, Yayoi Kusama, Georgia O’Keefe, or Faith Ringgold, you’d be in good shape here.

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BONUS SHOUT OUT

Really enjoyed meeting, getting to know, and showing around LJ Rader of

ArtButMakeItSports

around the Outsider Art Fair. A good dude who is doing big things over in that space, stay tuned to his channels if you aren’t already as I would expect to be seeing more and more outsider and folk art, especially some Elijah Pierce in the near future.

FROM THE COLLECTIVE

available for purchase

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