"Great and Mighty Things": Outsider Art from the Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz Collection

Featuring over two hundred works dating from the 1930s to 2010 by 27 self-taught American artists, the exhibition “Great and Mighty Things”: Outsider Art from the Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz Collection seeks to further the dialogue concerning the intersection of outsider art with mainstream modern and contemporary art.

Outsider artists—untrained individuals who employ unusual materials and methods to create their art independently of familiar styles, trends, or movements—rarely have the advantages of money, education, or art-school training.  Instead, the inventive, everyday quality and the storytelling aspects of their artworks are fueled by their own personal narratives as well as by the popular culture that surrounds us all.

Despite their characteristic beginnings as artistic “outsiders,” many self-taught figures have gained widespread acclaim.  Over the past three decades, Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz have assembled one of the finest private collections of American outsider art in private hands in the United States.  Their promised gift to the Philadelphia Museum of Art is a truly collection– transforming event for the Museum, launching it into the top ranks of public holdings of outsider art in the country.

Presented by Philadelphia Museum of Art Accessible Programs - Groups who can no longer come to the Museum due to age related limitations or disabilities can still experience this exciting special exhibition!  A Museum Guide will bring this colorful, digitally illustrated lecture to our location.

Sponsored by the Audubon Women's Club.