Art Brut's New Visibility in Contemporary Art

Art brut, which was originally defined by Jean Dubuffet, has gained popularity in the mainstream since the 1980s. This shift was highlighted by exhibitions such as 'Les Singuliers de l'art' at the ARC/Musée d'Art Moderne in Paris and 'Outsiders' at the Hayward Gallery in London, along with the launch of Raw Vision magazine in 1993 and the inaugural outsider art fair in New York. Harald Szeemann showcased art brut at Documenta 5 in 1972 and the 4th Lyon Biennale in 1997. Jean-Hubert Martin's 1989 exhibition 'Magiciens de la Terre' combined Western and non-Western artists. The 2000 Bordeaux exhibition 'Présumés innocents' featured Henry Darger alongside contemporary creators. Despite this growing interest, art brut remains underrepresented, with limited collections and infrequent monographic exhibitions. The 2013 Venice Biennale's title, referencing Marino Auriti, reflects this ongoing fascination.