The Outsider Art Fair is the wacky escapism we all need right now

Given the high-stakes drama that’s marked the first three weeks of 2020—an assassination in Iran, a retaliatory strike on U.S. bases in Iraq, an impeachment hearing, and, yes, the royal Megxit—the 28th Outsider Art Fair that rolled into New York last week offered the creative class the kind of winter escapist breather that sun-worshippers seek in Miami. The four-day fair, which focuses on self-taught art created outside the mainstream, featured the work of hundreds of artists, with exhibitors from 35 cities and 10 countries. Here, a few brilliant, beautiful, and offbeat highlights.

[Anatomy Couple by Joanathan Bessaci represented by the Marion-Harris gallery in NY. Photo: courtesy Bill Shapiro]

[Untitled by Sara Flores; represented by Shipibo Conibo Center. Photo: courtesy Bill Shapiro]

[Grgich, It’s all fun and games till some starts crying, Polysemie/Robert Poulin gallery. Photo: courtesy Bill Shapiro]

[Untitled by Norimitsu Kokubo. Photo: courtesy Bill Shapiro]

[Untitled by Joana Ramalho; represented by the Manicomio gallery, Portugal. Photo: courtesy Bill Shapiro]

[Sign Language Hands (circa 1920); represented by Steven S. Powers gallery in Brooklyn. Photo: courtesy Bill Shapiro]

[Accidents in Paradise #2 by Dietmar Busse; represented by the Fierman Gallery, NYC. Photo: courtesy Bill Shapiro]