Outsider Art Fair Paris

Raw Art in Paris Since 2013

The Outsider Art Fair was founded in 1993 in New York by Sanford Smith, quickly becoming the world reference fair for outsider art, raw art, and self-taught art. In 2013, the fair expanded to Paris, a pioneering city in the recognition of raw art thanks to Jean Dubuffet, who in 1945 gave this name to the creations of marginal individuals, hospital patients, and mystics – works free from any academic or cultural influence.

The first Parisian edition was held at the Hôtel Le A in the 8th arrondissement, before moving to the Hôtel du Duc and then to the Atelier Richelieu from 2017 onwards. After a final edition at Atelier Richelieu in 2022, the fair was relaunched in 2023 under the name Outsider Paris at the Bastille Design Center.

The Bastille Design Center: A New Home for Raw Art

Since 2023, Outsider Paris has been held at the Bastille Design Center, at 74 boulevard Richard-Lenoir in the 11th arrondissement. This emblematic space, with its rehabilitated industrial architecture, offers a raw and authentic setting that perfectly resonates with the spirit of raw art. The fair takes place on the sidelines of Art Basel Paris, benefiting from the dynamism of Paris Art Week in October.

2024 Edition: Second Edition at the Bastille Design Center

The 2nd edition of Outsider Paris took place in October 2024 at the Bastille Design Center, bringing together a selection of international galleries specializing in raw art and outsider art. The event, free and open to all, allowed the public to discover striking works by marginal and unconventional artists in an intimate and warm atmosphere.

2025 Edition: Third Edition and International Affirmation

The 3rd edition of Outsider Paris took place from October 21 to 26, 2025 at the Bastille Design Center, on the sidelines of Art Basel Paris. Nine international galleries participated, including Copenhagen Outsider Art Gallery, Creative Growth Art Center, Galerie Kahn, Galerie Escale Nomad, Galerie Pol Lemétais, Maroncelli 12 Gallery, Mathilde Hatzenberger Gallery, Rizomi Arte, and Zürcher Gallery. Admission was free, in line with the event's popular and inclusive mission.

The Legacy of Jean Dubuffet

Outsider Paris continues the legacy of Jean Dubuffet, who in 1945 identified raw art as the creations of individuals who had received no artistic training – hospitalized, imprisoned, anarchists, mystics, or rebels – and who created in complete freedom, outside of intellectual and academic conventions. The fair celebrates this radical creativity and offers a unique platform for artists whose work emerges on the fringes of traditional contemporary art circuits.