F L A U N T
Issei Nishimura. Double Images Like Persimmon, 2011. 23⅜ x31 ⅛ inches (59.3x79cm). Acrylic, pencil, works on paper. Courtesy of Galerie Miyawaki.
The 8th Paris edition of the Outsider Art Fair, the premier fair dedicated to Self-Taught Art, Art Brut and Outsider Art, opened on October 21st and will be on view till the end of the month.
For the first time ever the fair will include a hybrid of online and in-person components. The online exhibition will be paired with a special exhibition, Sexual Personae, organized by former Pompidou curator Alison M. Gingeras at the Parisian auction house Hôtel Drouot.
FLAUNT had the opportunity to chat with Nikki Iacovella, the newly appointed Director of the beloved fair, about the 8th Paris edition of the fair, the upcoming hallmark NYC fair, and their new online platform.
Adam Hines. African-American Black People,2020. 18 x 24.5 inches (45.7x62.3cm). Color pencil on paper. Courtesy of Project Onward.
You were appointed as New Director of the Outsider Art Fair at a certainly unique time, how has it been?
I’m looking at this moment in time as not only a way to exploring the various ways to transcend the traditional art fair model, but also as a time for expansion. I am excited about the future, specifically how I can generate more interest in Self-Taught artists and OAF in general. It certainly has been a unique time, but it’s been invigorating!
Are you working on any new exhibitions for the fair in NYC?
The Paris fair opens this week, but preparations are already under way for our hallmark NYC fair in January 2021. We’re thinking about unique ways to adapt to the current climate and best serve our exhibitors and patrons, like the sister fair in Paris. For me it’s about transcending the traditional art fair model.
Itsuo Kobayahi. Untitled, 2018. 9.2 x 13.5 x 6.2 inches (23.6x34.4x15.8cm). Ink on paper. Courtesy OF Kushino Terrace.
What can you tell us about the new exhibition for the 8th Paris edition of the Outsider Art Fair?
In tandem with the online fair is a special exhibition organized by former Pompidou curator Alison M. Gingeras taking place at the Parisian auction house Hôtel Drouot. Entitled Sexual Personae, the exhibition examines archetypes of womanhood that are deeply embedded in Western culture, and brings together a panoply of iconic examples of archetypes from Outsider Art. The exhibition includes over 100 artworks by 45 self-taught, outsider and art brut artists from across the world, all sourced from the fair’s exhibitors.
It’s the first time the fair will include a hybrid of online and in-person components, what does that look like?
Over the summer, we launched an exciting online platform entitled Art Brut Global, which offered an opportunity for our exhibitors to connect to new audiences during the pandemic and generated a lot of new collectors. The approach with the Paris edition of OAF is similar, only we are going way deeper with Artlogic to come up with a dynamic, elegant platform to sell works virtually.
With this hybrid model, you can expect that both the online viewing room and the in-person exhibition at Drouot will keep art collectors and lovers of Outsider Art engaged during this time. In light of FIAC’s recent cancellation, there will be even more attention on Sexual Personae given that Parisians will be hungry to see art in real life.
Emery Blagdon. Untitled#375, c.1954-1986. 17 x 17 x 17 inches (43.2x43.2x43.2cm). Baling wire, aluminum foil, copper wire. Courtesy of Cavin-Morris Gallery.
Our lives have dramatically shifted over the last year with coronavirus and isolation, how would you say the role of art has changed?
I’m not sure if the role of art has changed as such. For me art has always played an integral and important role in my life. But I do think how we look at art has changed.
Selling works online existed before the pandemic, but I think the current situation has accelerated this platform, making it an additional selling tool. Galleries and art fairs continue to experiment with ways to make the online selling experience more genuine and engaging to the buyer. It’s been interesting to see that develop so quickly over the last 6 months.
In saying that, I do think we’ve begun to realize that seeing work in the flesh is important and something not to be taken for granted. I think the online selling platforms will continue to offer ways to showcase works when seeing them in the flesh is not an option.
Pau lDuhem. Untitled,n.d. 11 3/4 x 15 3/4 inches (30x40cm). Mixed media on paper. Courtesy of Pol Lemétais.
What are your plans for the future of the Outsider Art Fair?
There is currently such an unprecendented interest in self-taught artist, and my plans will be to continue to explore ways to bring these artists to wider audiences. It’s a really unique moment for the fair to reinvent itself, enhance our virtual outreach and look beyond the physical boundaries of a traditional art fair. My plan for the future is to build on the fair’s rich history of presenting museum quality curated exhibitions and generating excitement not only in our field, but beyond.
All of the works will be on view on-site at Hôtel Drouot and for sale through the auction house’s online platform, Drouot Digital.
