The definition of Outsider Art is fraught with issues—as online trolls will attest—and, Powers will not attempt to define it at the forthcoming Outsider Art Fair in New York, January 18-21. However, to further confuse the issue, Powers will bring a few of what he calls “insider/outsider” artists such as Forrest Bess, Frank Overton Colbert, Ida Jones and John Roeder. Individuals that are hard to pigeonhole and overlap with Outsider, Folk, Self-taught, and schooled artists.

Powers asks, "can an artist be an “outsider” if you they had some instruction, but have a minority’s perspective?" "Are all outsider artists self-taught?" "If they spent time in a mental institution are they automatically an “outsider?” "Can one be an “outsider” if they were on the fringe of society, but then thrust into the New York gallery scene and continued to create art that was then for resale?" As with most things, a case-by-case examination and identification of context is key to aiding any definition (if one must be so defined).

Powers will present a number of artists and works of art that overlap, transition or fit by context into this insider/outsider scheme. In addition, Powers will have works by Dilmus Hall, George Morgan, Henry Speller, George Ohr, Eugene Andolsek, Henry Ray Clark and others.

A 64-page online catalog accompanies the art fair exhibit and can be viewed at stevenspowers.com

The Outsider Art Fair takes place at The Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 W 18th St, New York, NY 10011, January 18-21, 2018.