A good week for outsider and folk art, with exhibitions opening from Wisconsin to New Mexico and a rare selling show of Madge Gill postcards at auction. There's also encouraging news about self-taught artists getting to speak for themselves, and a fresh look at folk art in Louisiana.
Postcards by self-taught artist Madge Gill come to Sworders for selling show
The visionary British artist Madge Gill, known for her intricate pen and ink drawings created under spirit guidance, is getting a rare commercial outing at Sworders auction house. These postcards offer an accessible entry point into Gill's obsessive, mediumistic practice. Read it at Antiques Trade Gazette.
Self-taught artist, retired farmer behind iconic western Wisconsin sculpture garden
A retired farmer in western Wisconsin has created a sculpture garden that's become a local landmark. These grassroots visionary environments, built without formal training or institutional support, remain some of the most compelling expressions of outsider creativity. Read it at CBS News.
An Exhibition Lets Self-Taught Artists Speak for Themselves
Hyperallergic reports on a show that centres the voices of self-taught artists rather than filtering their work through curatorial interpretation. It's a welcome shift in how outsider art gets presented and understood. Read it at Hyperallergic.
On exhibit: LSU Museum of Art's Folk Art Gallery
The Louisiana State University Museum of Art has opened a new folk art gallery. Details are slim, but any institutional commitment to folk art deserves attention. Read it at 225 Magazine.
Ghana's fantasy coffins are now on display in New Mexico
The elaborate figurative coffins made by Ghanaian artisans have arrived in Albuquerque, bringing this remarkable folk art tradition to American audiences. These hand-built caskets shaped like fish, cocoa pods, or Mercedes-Benz cars celebrate the deceased's life and profession with humour and craftsmanship. Read it at Albuquerque Journal.
Massive 'Alebrijes' art exhibit opens in Salinas July 31
A large exhibition of alebrijes, the brightly coloured Mexican folk art creatures, opens in Salinas, California. These fantastical papier-mâché and carved wood animals represent a living folk tradition that continues to evolve. Read it at Salinas Californian.
Studio BRUT is an outsider art studio and gallery in Swindon. We publish this round-up every week. For one email when something is worth knowing, join the newsletter at the bottom of this page, and our guide to 155 outsider artists is always open.