Pan American Art Projects is pleased to announce Voices from the Edge, two groundbreaking exhibitions celebrating the vibrant world of outsider art. The exhibitions will feature works by renowned outsider artist Purvis Young and other visionary artists across the Americas. These exhibitions are presented in collaboration with Martin Siskind and NAEMI (National Art Exhibitions by the Mentally Ill) and curated by Claudia Taboada.
Voices from the Edge presents the unfiltered creativity of artists outside traditional art circles, showcasing their viewpoints based on unconventional methods and personal experiences. Purvis Young, known for his powerful depictions of urban life and social struggle, will be a focal point of the exhibitions, presenting audiences with his compelling, expressionistic style. Young’s powerful depictions will be supplemented with works by Candice Avery, Jorge Alberto Cadi, Isaac Crespo, Sebastian Ferreira, Jorge A. Hernandez, Ramon Llosa, Echo McCallister, Milton Schwartz, Carlos Stella and Misleidys Castillo, who break the boundaries of tradition and expectations. Their unique artistic voices have been shaped by their battles with mental illness.
From his earliest years, with his Goodbread Alley street display of hundreds of small paintings, it was Young’s ambition to share his work with as many people as possible. His images cry out to be savored by a large audience, not locked up in storage. Most of the works in this exhibit have not been seen by the public since Young made them and entrusted them to Siskind, whose home has become a packed shrine to the artist. Visitors to this exhibition will be beguiled by images that look as fresh as the day they were painted. They remain forever Young.
- Dr. Adrianne Von Lates
The exhibitions seeks to challenge preconceived notions about art and its creators, inviting viewers to explore the ways in which mental illness and creativity intersect. The featured artists provide bold, unmediated expressions of their inner worlds through painting and mixed media. Voices from the Edge is not only a showcase of remarkable talent but also a celebration of resilience, offering a platform for those whose works confront stigma and defy societal expectations. By spotlighting the beauty and complexity of outsider art, these exhibitions emphasize the transformative power of creative expression in the face of adversity.
Outsider art is typically characterized by its raw, unpolished nature and is deeply personal, often drawing from the artist's inner experiences, imagination, and emotions. Artists like Purvis Young are celebrated for their authentic, unfiltered perspectives that challenge conventional artistic standards. Their works are appreciated for their originality and emotional intensity, often offering a fresh lens on the world.
