| Books |
| This page contains bibliographical information and summaries of the central books on outsider art. All are available in the UNC Chapel Hill libraries. The sections below are as follows (click to skip to a particular section):
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| Books - General Reference |
These materials all have a broader focus than outsider art, as reference sources on that particular a subject are not yet available (a directory is in the works by Raw Vision, an outsider art magazine discussed on the journals page). However, they all contain pertinent information and give a good overview of other resources available. The books are next to each other in the Art Library reference section. All are non-circulating.
Biographical Index Meyer, George H. (Ed.). (1987). Folk Artists Biographical Index.
Detroit: Gale Research Co. This book offers an extensive listing of artists with brief information on alternate names (cross-referencing), bibliographical sources, primary city of work, media used (materials), and institutions and museums where the artist has exhibited. It is not good for browsing, but will be helpful if you are looking for information or articles on a particular artist. { }
Encyclopedia Rosenak, Chuck and Jan Rosenak. (1990). Museum of American
Folk Art Encyclopedia of Twentieth-century American Folk Art and
Artists. New York: Abbeville Press. This encyclopedia is the only one out now that is devoted exclusively to folk art - its institutions, concepts and artists. Its inclusiveness will give the reader a broader idea of how outsider art fits into folk art. The American Folk Art Museum (the new name of the Museum) is soon publishing Encyclopedia of American Folk Art (Routledge, May 2003), but this 1990 encyclopedia is a solid reference work in the interim. { }
Guide and Bibliography Sellen, Betty-Carol. (2000). Self-Taught, Outsider and Folk
Art. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co. This is a survey of galleries and museums (divided by state), fairs and festivals, art centers and organizations, artists and exhibitions - with contact, location information and an introductory paragraph for each. It is an updated version of 20th Century American, Folk, Self-Taught and Outsider Art (McFarland and Co., 2000), which is nearby on the shelf.
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| Books - General |
Cardinal, Roger. (1973). Outsider Art.
New York: Praeger Publishers. With this book, renowned folk art historian Dr. Cardinal coined the term Outsider Art and ushered in a new level of awareness of the phenomenon. Well-written, comprehensive and filled with vivid illustrations, this should be the first book one reads on outsider art. { }
Eliel, Carol S. and Maurice Tuchman. (Eds.). (1992). Parallel
Visions: Modern Artists and Outsider Art. Los Angeles: Los
Angeles County Museum of Art. This is the catalog of the landmark 1992 exhibition organized by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. It contains many color images and in-depth essays by several of the most respected, active scholars in the field. Aside from being a good post-introduction to the genre (essays are best read after a general introductory article or book), the catalog puts outsider art within a larger context (psychology, the traditional art world). Essays of particular interest:
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Maizels, John. (1996). Raw Creation: Outsider
Art and Beyond. London: Phaidon Press Limited. This book, written by the founder of Raw Vision, is a beautifully illustrated and detailed overview of outsider art. Maizels provides a history and analysis of the movements, including folk art, the art of the insane, art environments and particular collections. The scope of the book (covering all aspects of the genre), the images (large and full-color) and the authority of the author make this text an enjoyable and informative read. The book also includes an introduction by Roger Cardinal.
Outsiders: An Art Without Precedent or Tradition.
(1979). London: Arts Council of Great Britain. This is the catalog from the legendary 1979 exhibit at Hayward Gallery in London. It contains many illustrations not seen in other books and also has a preface by Victor Musgrave (noted collector and gallery owner) and an essay by Roger Cardinal. { }
Peiry, Lucienne. (2001). L'art Brut: The
Origins of Outsider Art. Paris: Flammarion. This extensively illustrated book details more than
the others the origins of the art brut collection and its reception
by the art world and the public. It also discusses children's art,
an area of outsider art not often considered. The appendices include
biographies of several artists and a bibliography organized into
several categories, including exhibition catalogs, videos, articles
and manuscripts not collectively listed elsewhere. Many are in French,
however, as the book was originally published in French, but this
is a valuable resource for those seeking rarer materials.
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| Books - Art and Madness |
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Brand-Claussen, Bettina, Inge Jadi and Caroline Douglas. (1996).
Beyond reason: Art and Psychosis; Works from the Prinzhorn Collection.
London: South Bank Centre. Beyond Reason concentrates entirely on the artwork amassed by doctor and art historian Hans Prinzhorn, who spent 40 years collecting more than 5,000 works from people in psychiatric institutions in Europe. The three essays at the front provide an introduction to the landmark collection, an analysis of its contents (by Dr. Inge Jadi, director of the collection for 25-years), and a discussion of the link between art and madness over the past 200 years. All essays include historical photographs, lengthy bibliographies and notes. One hundred thirty-eight pages of color plates of the collection follow, with basic artist biographical information. This is the most thorough, authoritative book on the collection. { }
Morgenthaler, Walter. (1992). Madness and Art: The Life and
Works of Adolf Wölfli. Lincoln: University of Nebraska
Press. Originally published in 1921 as Ein Geisteskranker als Künstler: Adolf Wolfli, this is an English translation by Aaron H. Esman, M.D., from French translation. This is one of the only books on psychiatric art published before the seminal work, The Artistry of the Mentally Ill (1922) by Hans Prinzhorn. Madness and Art offers an analysis of the minds of schizophrenics, artists and visionaries, as well as a comprehensive biography of the genre's most famous artist. It also includes several color plates and short autobiography by Wolfli himself.
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| Books - Folk Art Environments |
| Beardsley, John. (1995). Gardens of Revelation:
Environments by Visionary Artists. New York: Abbeville Press. One of the few books to focus solely on folk art environments, Gardens of Revelation divides these phenomena into five chapters, each exploring a different theme ("For God and Country," "Grottoes of the Holy Book"). Nicely illustrated, this book draws parallels between the intentions, themes and structures of various environments, while introducing many of the genre's most memorable characters. { }
Manley, Roger. (1997). Self-made Worlds: Visionary Folk Art
Environments. New York: Aperture. Manley is considered the foremost expert on outsider art in the United States. His book is a nice compliment to Beardsley's in that it goes artist-by-artist rather than theme-by-theme. With large photographs and lively biographies, Manley brings the environments and their creators to life. The book also includes a selected bibliography and a list of further environments with creator and location information included.
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