Art Brut from Canada

What else could art look like? “Outsider art” is the English name from raw art, given to the idiosyncratic work of self-taught creators who are pushed to use their own invented visual language to create images of their imagination. It lies outside the continuum of the history of art, outside the boundaries of art recognized by institutions established artistic, and outside the collective discourse of the art world dominant. This book examines prejudices, ideologies and social factors which underlie the different approaches to “outsider” art, including the myths surrounding mental illness, movements towards social inclusion and those who move away from the marginalizing effect of labels. More importantly Again, Art Brut du Canada explores how we conceive of art and who has the right to call oneself an artist. In this investigation dedicated to the art brut of Canada, the first of its kind, the artists presented have a lot to tell us on their need to create, in a non-apologetic manner and without worrying about public opinion.