Self-Taught Artists Consider the Cosmos

Reflecting on the passing of self-taught artists Paul Laffoley and Ionel Talpazan this fall, one is reminded of the compelling nature of art born out of deep and long-lasting investigations of specific themes over a lifetime. The work of artists Misha Bittleston, Paul Lafolley, and Ionel Talpazan all share a common interest in cosmology and otherworldly phenomena, popular subjects among many self-taught artists, and ones that have fascinated artists for millennia.

Against a late twentieth century visual culture backdrop, awash in imagery of interstellar travel and extraterrestrial life forms, these three artists can be distinguished from their historical self-taught predecessors not only by excellence, but by virtue of their unflagging dedication to astronomy and their particular lived moment in history. All three matured after the advent of the atomic age and the first human landing on the moon, and witnessed great advances in space exploration and technology.

For the 2016 Anne Hill Blanchard Annual Lecture, join Professor Daniel Wojcik, author of the forthcoming book Outsider Art: Visionary Worlds and Trauma, who will share his perspective on the work of Ionel Talpazan, a self-taught artist from Romania who created visionary works of UFOs and life in outer space. Douglas Walla, Paul Laffoley’s dealer and friend for more than twenty-five years and editor of the soon-to-be published Essential Paul Laffoley: Works from the Boston Visionary Cell, will provide insight into Laffoley’s transdisciplinary oeuvre. Artist Misha Bittleston will speak about the science informing and inspiring his work. Miriam Kramer, Space Science Reporter for Mashable, will serve as moderator.











When: Sat., Jan. 23, 2016 at 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Where: American Folk Art Museum
2 Lincoln Square
212-595-9533
Price: $20
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Reflecting on the passing of self-taught artists Paul Laffoley and Ionel Talpazan this fall, one is reminded of the compelling nature of art born out of deep and long-lasting investigations of specific themes over a lifetime. The work of artists Misha Bittleston, Paul Lafolley, and Ionel Talpazan all share a common interest in cosmology and otherworldly phenomena, popular subjects among many self-taught artists, and ones that have fascinated artists for millennia.

Against a late twentieth century visual culture backdrop, awash in imagery of interstellar travel and extraterrestrial life forms, these three artists can be distinguished from their historical self-taught predecessors not only by excellence, but by virtue of their unflagging dedication to astronomy and their particular lived moment in history. All three matured after the advent of the atomic age and the first human landing on the moon, and witnessed great advances in space exploration and technology.

For the 2016 Anne Hill Blanchard Annual Lecture, join Professor Daniel Wojcik, author of the forthcoming book Outsider Art: Visionary Worlds and Trauma, who will share his perspective on the work of Ionel Talpazan, a self-taught artist from Romania who created visionary works of UFOs and life in outer space. Douglas Walla, Paul Laffoley’s dealer and friend for more than twenty-five years and editor of the soon-to-be published Essential Paul Laffoley: Works from the Boston Visionary Cell, will provide insight into Laffoley’s transdisciplinary oeuvre. Artist Misha Bittleston will speak about the science informing and inspiring his work. Miriam Kramer, Space Science Reporter for Mashable, will serve as moderator.

Buy tickets/get more info now