Content Warning: Please note that this film review contains themes of war, the Holocaust, refugee experiences and associated trauma. With the trauma of war, migration, and the refugee experience resonating powerfully today, the film’s underlining theme of the role of art in healing inspires.      Marika Henriques As a young girl, Marika Henriques was hidden from the Nazis in a Budapest cellar. She survived the Second World War only to find herself forced to flee Communist Hungary in her early 20s. Safely in Britain, she trained as a Jungian therapist. But it was the c ..read more

The European Outsider Art Association (EOA) is launching a virtual exhibition in June 2022, demonstrating support for the Ukrainian people and their culture. Outside In will be submitting two artworks to be featured so are inviting artists to submit work for consideration by 13 May. A Dove Has Spread Her Wings by Maria Prymachenko About the exhibition: The exhibition will be inspired by the work of the acclaimed Ukrainian artist Maria Prymachenko (1908–1997) and the theme of peace and hope. The exhibition will be opened at the 2022 EOA conference this June. Artworks will be selected and curate ..read more

‘Blueprint’ – Sally Case Outside In artist Sally Case has contributed the below to our on-going debate on the term “outsider art”, which she says are the result of a debate which happened around the subject at her home….             First, a couple of definitions. Regarding what constitutes ‘good / great art’ is, I would say, the extent to which a piece exhibits -either seperately or in conbination- a quality of transcendence, insight and technique to a wide range of viewers and over an extended period of time.     &nbs ..read more

As we continue our dialogues and debates around the term ‘outsider art’, a view from Outside In artist and poet ReaD Rhymes, who says he chooses to “stay outside.” Iron No:04 – homage to Anthony Gormley’s Iron Man and John Lennon’s ‘Mind Games’ – REaD Rhymes. “I want to be an outsider/an outsider artist. It’s not about having a safe place to express myself from. It’s where society has allowed me to be. For me health was the starting point. I could have gone Outside to Switzerland if my working class family could afford it. They couldn’t. So health meets class and i’m institutionalised in a pla ..read more

In the next in our series exploring the term ‘outsider art’, we hear from Outside In’s Training Programme Manager Kate Davey who explores the term and how it has been used in different contexts and looks to a future where all art can be seen simply as ‘art’. What do you think of the term? We would love to hear your views – and you can get in touch if you would like to contribute a viewpoint or a piece of work in any format by contacting Matt at matthew.forbes-dale@outsidein.org.uk or posting using the hashtag #outsiderartdebate. “The term outsider art has for a long time been seen by those wor ..read more

As part of our new series exploring Outsider Art, we are delighted to present a guest blog by Raw Vision editor John Maizels on the subject of Collecting Outsider Art. We will be presenting various viewpoints and contributions, also examining the term ‘Outsider art’ itself, and would welcome any input on how readers feel about the term and its use and those wanting to contribute written or visual pieces. John Maizels – editor of “Raw Vision” magazine. “The first collections of outsider art were not art collections as such but regarded as collections of specimens. The work carried out spontaneo ..read more

Artist Jan Arden recently traveled to Amsterdam to present work in a group exhibition at the Outsider Art Gallery, part of the prestigious Hermitage museum. The exhibition brings together artist from the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands who create monochrome artworks in pen, pencil, ink, charcoal or paint. It continues until 24 September 2017. We are delighted to share a poem about this experience that Jan wrote especially for the Outside In blog. I flew across the sea to see old Amsterdam that beckoned me amidst the trams and cycle tracks I sen ..read more

This year we are celebrating 10 years of Outside In. To mark this milestone, we are delighted to welcome 17 of our past Award Winners back to Pallant House Gallery for a special exhibition. Over the last decade Outside In has presented four triennial exhibitions, with awards presented each time for outstanding work. Outside In: 10 Years of Award Winners highlights not only the journey these Award Winners have been on since being selected by the judges, but also how Outside In has been pivotal in supporting their artistic development. The exhibition opens on Thursday 1 September. To give you a ..read more

Outside In’s latest exhibition Nama Āto: Japanese Outsider Art opened last week at Pallant House Gallery, Chichester. The exhibition features work by Koji Nishioka, Makoto Okawa and Yasuyuki Ueno, three artists with learning disabilities whose original and raw artwork is being presented in the UK for the very first time. The artists have each been supported by Atelier Corners in Osaka, Japan, a dedicated social welfare facility helping disabled artists to realise their potential and express their individualities.  Koji Nishioka has been interested in mus ..read more

In March this year ActionSpace artist Nnena Kalu was invited to take part in a four way residency with the Mad Museé in Belgium. She travelled over with ActionSpace facilitator Charlotte Hollinshead to spend one week creating a large-scale installation. Here Charlotte tells us about the residency and the outcomes. After arriving in Liege, fresh from the Eurostar Nnena met the other Capharnau’ exhibiting artists Hendrick Heffnick, Pascal Tassini and Selbermann in the Mad café, Liège. It was a wonderful introduction to the project, artists, facilitators and the Mad Museé team and we shared our f ..read more