Self Taught & Outsider Art
The Anthony Petullo Collection of Self-Taught and Outsider Art is one of the premier collections of its kind in the country. Comprised of nearly five hundred pieces, two-thirds of which are European, the collection consists of works ranging from the early twentieth-century to the present, and includes many of the most renowned American artists in the field such as Bill Traylor, Henry Darger, and Minnie Evans. The distinguishing characteristic of the collection, however, is the strong emphasis on the work of European outsider artists including Adolf Wolfli, Alfred Wallis, Scottie Wilson, and artists from the Gugging psychiatric hospital near Vienna. Nearly every one is represented by multiple pieces, illustrating the depth of the Petullo Collection.
The Petullo Collection reflects the driving passion of both the creators and the collector. Self-taught artists are involved with the world and its influences, but often have little or no professional training in technique or art historical traditions. Unlike outsiders, however, they are grounded in reality and interactions with others. The label "outsider," as used in the genre, refers to artists who are apart from mainstream society, often isolated by physical or psychological circumstances. Their creations are spontaneous and unstudied.
Located in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward, the collection is housed in a non-profit study center and gallery devoted to outsider and self-taught art. The gallery and library are open by appointment for interested visitors and researchers, student and civic groups, and are available to non-profit organizations for meetings and events.
The Anthony Petullo Collection of
Self-Taught and Outsider Art
219 N. Milwaukee Street, 3rd Floor
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-272-2525
Open by appointment only.
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