Visual arts
Visual art created by artists marginalised from the mainstream is often self-taught and extends beyond traditional structures and styles. Many of New Zealand's "self-taught" artists practise their art in Creative Spaces.
Wellington artist, curator and academic Stuart Shepherd undertook a national survey of self-taught artists in New Zealand in 2002 and discovered the work of more than 400 artists. Since then, awareness of this work has grown and it is featuring in a growing number of galleries.
The term “outsider artists” describes marginalised artists who don’t fit into the mainstream art scene. Stuart prefers to use the term “self-taught and visionary artists”, referring to those who have had no formal or traditional art training and do not follow a particular style.
Stuart, who has been invited to showcase a collection of New Zealand art at the New York Outsider Art Fair in January 2009, says that self-taught or outsider art is well-established internationally and has a growing market. “New Zealand is one of the few countries in the world not to have a folk art museum. These museums show the work of self-taught artists, providing opportunities for authentic local expression. You don’t have to have a university degree to create work of cultural value.”
Among the artists whose work he will showcase are Andrew Blythe of Auckland, and Martin Thompson and Colin Korovin of Wellington.
He’s been promoting self-taught and visionary art since he attended the 1991 New York Outsider Art Fair. “As an artist, I was keen to see the latest ideas in contemporary art and when I went to that first fair, I was totally inspired. It was like turning on a light and opening my eyes. That’s the effect the fair has on people. They realise the work is as hot as any other contemporary artwork.”
Outside-In Gallery
Stuart curated the exhibition for Arts Access Aotearoa’s Outside-In Gallery, launched by Prime Minister Helen Clarke in December 2007. This gallery is a major initiative of Arts Access Aotearoa, aimed at promoting the work of New Zealand's self-taught artists. It involves distributing artworks to government and private sector offices with the option to buy. The artists that Arts Access Aotearoa works with belong to marginalised groups such as those with disabilities or mental health issues.
If you would like to participate in the Outside-In Gallery, please contact Arts Access Aotearoa (T: 04-802 4349 E: ).