The term outsider art was coined by art critic Roger Cardinal in 1972 as an English synonym for art brut (French: [aʁ bʁyt], "raw art" or "rough art"), a label created by French artist Jean Dubuffet to describe art created outside the boundaries of official culture; Dubuffet focused particularly on art by insane-asylum inmates.

While Dubuffet's term is quite specific, the English term "outsider art" is often applied more broadly, to include certain self-taught or Naïve art makers who were never institutionalized. Typically, those labeled as outsider artists have little or no contact with the mainstream art world or art institutions. In many cases, their work is discovered only after their deaths. Often, outsider art illustrates extreme mental states, unconventional ideas, or elaborate fantasy worlds.

Outsider art has emerged as a successful art marketing category (an annual Outsider Art Fair has taken place in New York since 1992). The term is sometimes misapplied as a catch-all marketing label for art created by people outside the mainstream "art world," regardless of their circumstances or the content of their work.

• Artists (9)
• Galleries (5)

• Anthony Petullo Collection
  petulloartcollection.com
  Self-taught art with heavy European influence. A non-profit reference site.
• Raw Vision Magazine
  rawvision.com
  International journal of the art of the 'unknown geniuses' who are the creators of Outsider Art. Provides current and back issues, subscription information and gallery of artists.
• Foundation for Self-Taught American Artists
  foundationstaart.org
  Documents the work of self-taught American artists. Includes artist's biographies, media, and educators resources.