Unpopular (or possibly popular, we shall see) opinion:
“Outsider art” is just a way for art establishment insiders to maintain their power over the arts, by controlling which “outsiders” are deemed worthy of notice.
Of the millions of amateur or small-time artists out there, a tiny number are semi-arbitrarily invited to a special and patronising dancing-bear role in the art establishment. The only qualification seems to be producing art which is technically not all that good so that the great unwashed can continue to be mystified by it.
“Outsider art” is just a way for art establishment insiders to maintain their power over the arts, by controlling which “outsiders” are deemed worthy of notice.
Of the millions of amateur or small-time artists out there, a tiny number are semi-arbitrarily invited to a special and patronising dancing-bear role in the art establishment. The only qualification seems to be producing art which is technically not all that good so that the great unwashed can continue to be mystified by it.