NEW YORK, NY (March 23, 2026) — The Outsider Art Fair (OAF), the world’s premier event dedicated to Self-Taught and Outsider Art, concluded its 34th edition on Sunday, March 22, at the Metropolitan Pavilion. The 2026 edition continued to see robust sales and another large increase in attendance. The curated projects, RUN STORE by Susan Cianciolo, and From the North: Inuit Prints and Drawings, 1959-2025, were well received by visitors and press.
The 2026 edition—the first produced under the leadership of Director Elizabeth Denny—signaled a new chapter for the fair, with the addition of OAF Talks + Performances, which featured three panel discussions and two performances at the venue. “My first fair was an incredible experience,” said Denny. “I witnessed first-hand the impact OAF has on New York’s cultural scene. There was a lot of joy in the room and the appetite for self-taught art is clearly still growing. At our best, our exhibitors help us to broaden our understanding of creativity. OAF is known for pushing boundaries, and we certainly demonstrated that again this year.”
Andrew Edlin, owner of the Outsider Art Fair, added: “Most importantly, our exhibitors did extremely well, the ultimate barometer of a successful fair. The Sam Doyle and Jon Serl installations at the Gallery of Everything and Shrine were among the most memorable booths in OAF history. The debut of our expanded Talks + Performances series was an unqualified success. Most events were at near capacity (120), and the Minnie Evans panel was standing-room-only. We look forward to sharing the recordings. After we catch our breath, we’ll be gearing up for our 35th anniversary, where we intend to continue the challenge of delivering a great art fair!”