Outsider: Sydney’s New Gallery for Art Outside the Mainstream

Outsider Gallery is pleased to announce its launch as an art gallery showcasing the work of undiscovered and emerging artists from Australia and abroad. 

Launching in the heart of Surry Hills, Sydney, the gallery's mission is to discover and nurture hidden talents, offering fresh discoveries for collectors and art enthusiasts alike. The gallery is dedicated to making contemporary art more accessible for a wider audience.

Outsider Gallery was founded by Michael Pizzardello and Nik Ternezis, two university friends with backgrounds in art and business, who were inspired by meeting artists on their travels and wanted to bring their experience of discovery to the Sydney art scene.

Michael Pizzardello (right) and Nik Ternezis (left), founders of Outsider

The name Outsider Gallery draws its inspiration from outsider art, also known as art brut. Outsider artists are self-taught individuals who create freely without reference to mainstream or commercial trends. Art brut celebrates the unfiltered creativity found in the works of autodidacts, neurodivergent individuals, and those on the fringes of society. 

“Drawings, paintings, all works of art emanating from obscure personalities [...] and strangers to the beaten track of catalogued art.” - Jean du Buffet, originator of the term ‘art brut’.

The gallery aims to be an artist incubator that finds and develops artists that are currently unrecognised or outside the contemporary art mainstream, inviting newcomers, art lovers and collectors to engage with artists that may not otherwise be represented in the contemporary art scene. 

The gallery actively works to support these artists, providing the resources and means to help them gain recognition.

“Art has the power to break people out of habitual modes of being, to free people – it is a pattern-disruptor.” said co-founder Nik Ternezis. “There are so many artists nobody knows about who radiate that uncontrived energy. We want to tell their stories.”

Outsider is dedicated to making contemporary art accessible and affordable to a broader audience, breaking down the barriers that often make art feel exclusive or intimidating. 

“We want the gallery to be a place where newcomers feel comfortable regardless of status or background,” said co-founder Michael Pizzardello. “We want to make contemporary art accessible to people who would like art but may feel intimidated or excluded from contemporary art spaces.”

The gallery’s debut exhibition, FRAGMENTS, opening September 6th 2024, showcases the work of Belgian artist Guy de Jong, marking the first public viewing of his work in over a decade. This exhibition reflects Outsider Gallery’s commitment to providing a distinct and refreshing perspective within the contemporary art landscape. 

About FRAGMENTS:

FRAGMENTS is an exhibition showcasing the work of Guy de Jong, an outsider artist who has spent six decades producing paintings, sculptures, and murals. Known for his raw authenticity and deeply personal approach, de Jong's work has largely remained hidden from the public eye. FRAGMENTS brings together a selection of some of his most compelling pieces, offering a glimpse into the mind of an artist driven by unmediated creative impulse.

The opening night will take place on Friday, September 6, from 6-8pm, at Outsider Gallery’s new space at 144 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills.

Contact:

Michael Pizzardello (Director) Email: info@outsidergallery.com.au Phone: +61 422 509 508 Website: outsidergallery.com.au Instagram: @outsidergallery_

About Outsider - Press Release.pdf

Download PDF • 213KB