OUTSIDER ART

After the exhibition of my paintings in London in 1990 I started looking for a gallery in New York. I showed my work to a gallery in Soho. “You’re too painterly for Soho,” said the owner. “You belong on Madison Avenue.” I went to a gallery on Madison Avenue. “You know what pays my rent?” asked the owner. “I’ll tell you. Classical Realism! Classical Realism pays my rent! You’re an Impressionist. You belong on Fifty-seventh Street.” “You know what you are doing?” asked a gallery owner on Fifty-seventh Street.” “No. What am I doing?” “You’re doing Outsider Art! Outsider artists are self taught, they are emotionally disturbed, and they’ve been in prison.” He gave me the address of an Outsider Art Gallery in Soho. I never went because I was only two-thirds qualified.