Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc)
Outsider Art Fair (Wide Open Arts, LLC) operates the world's longest-running annual fair dedicated exclusively to self-taught, art brut, and outsider art, held annually in New York since 1993, serving specialist galleries, non-profits, and collectors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc) does
Outsider Art Fair (Wide Open Arts, LLC) is the world's longest-running annual fair dedicated exclusively to self-taught art, art brut, and outsider art, founded in 1993 and held for its 34th edition in March 2026 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City. The platform serves three primary constituencies: commercial galleries, private dealers, and non-profit organizations presenting self-taught artists, alongside art collectors seeking works outside the mainstream market. The product portfolio centers on the annual in-person event, supplemented by OAF Digital (an online exhibition platform built in partnership with Arcual), a branded merchandise e-commerce shop (totes, hats, umbrellas, books priced $8-$35), and "The Field," an educational resource covering outsider art history and artists.
The business operates on a transaction-fee model with two revenue streams: exhibitor fees paid by galleries, non-profits, and dealers to participate (68 exhibitors in 2026, including 13 debuting galleries), and merchandise sales. The 2026 edition reported 40% attendance growth and "strong sales for the overwhelming majority of exhibitors." Distribution is concentrated in a single annual event window, with digital extensions via Arcual and a year-round online shop. The company is owned by Wide Open Arts, LLC, founded by gallerist Andrew Edlin who acquired the fair in 2012, and operates with a core team of approximately 5-10 people based in New York.
The fair's 34-year track record and institutional partnerships (American Folk Art Museum, The Barnes Foundation, High Museum, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Bronx Museum) anchor its market position. Programming has expanded beyond pure exhibition to include OAF Talks and performances, with the 2026 edition introducing live performances and an outsider fashion shop. The company discontinued its Paris edition in 2022 after a decade-long international run, narrowing back to a New York-only operating geography. The 35th edition is scheduled for March 18-21, 2027, with exhibitor applications already open.
Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc) firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc)
- Legal name
- Wide Open Arts, LLC
- Website
- https://outsiderartfair.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Outsider Art Fair (Wide Open Arts, LLC) operates the world's longest-running annual fair dedicated exclusively to self-taught, art brut, and outsider art, held annually in New York since 1993, serving specialist galleries, non-profits, and collectors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc) industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Art Fair and Event Services
- NAICS
- Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (71399)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- General Consumer Expos & Trade Shows (MPAGAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH), Fairgrounds & Expo Parks (THAHAAAH)
Keywords
Where Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc) is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc) business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Exhibitor Fees: Revenue generated from galleries, non-profits, and dealers who pay to exhibit at the annual fair
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including tote bags, umbrellas, hats, coasters, and books through the OAF Shop
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Branded merchandise items |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc) product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Outsider Art Fair organizes an annual art fair at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City, dedicated exclusively to self-taught art, art brut, and outsider art. The 34th edition in 2026 featured 68 exhibitors including 13 debuting galleries, with the 35th edition scheduled for March 18-21, 2027. Supporting offerings include branded merchandise sales, a digital exhibition platform via Arcual, and educational content through The Field.
Product overview
Outsider Art Fair operates as a single core product—the annual Outsider Art Fair—supplemented by several add-on offerings. The fair is a premier international event dedicated to self-taught art, Art Brut, and Outsider Art, held annually at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City. Supporting offerings include OAF Digital (digital access platform partnered with Arcual), a merchandise shop (featuring branded items like the OAF Hat, OAF Umbrella, OAF Coaster, OAF Totes in various colors, and Dan Miller Pouch), published books (such as 'They Taught Themselves'), and The Field—an educational resource on outsider art history and artists. The company also manages exhibitor applications, curated spaces, talks and performances programming, and operates both New York and historical Paris editions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Outsider Art Fair (Annual Event) Annual in-person art fair held at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City, dedicated exclusively to self-taught art, art brut, and outsider art. The 34th edition (2026) featured 68 exhibitors including 13 debuting galleries. Open to galleries, non-profits, and dealers who seek to showcase works by self-taught/outsider artists.
- OAF Digital Digital platform and online experience for the Outsider Art Fair, enabling remote access to fair content and exhibitions. Partnered with Arcual for digital delivery.
- OAF Merchandise Shop Online shop selling branded merchandise including totes ($10-$35), umbrellas ($30), hats ($35), coasters ($8), and books ($15).
Quantifiable outcome
- Record-breaking attendance and robust sales in 2026
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc)
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc) technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc) partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered cultural partner, digital partner, media partner, sponsor and beneficiary.
- American Folk Art Museumcultural partnerCultural partner providing institutional support and collaboration in promoting outsider and self-taught art
- The Barnes Foundationcultural partnerCultural partner collaborating on programming and audience engagement for outsider art
- High Museum of Artcultural partnerCultural partner supporting and promoting outsider art through institutional collaboration
- John Michael Kohler Arts Centercultural partnerCultural partner known for supporting outsider and self-taught artists
- Bronx Museumcultural partnerCultural partner collaborating on outsider art initiatives
- Arcualdigital partnerDigital partner providing online exhibition platform for the fair's digital initiatives
- brutjournalmedia partnerMedia partner providing coverage and editorial support for outsider art content
- Raw Visionmedia partnerMedia partner and magazine dedicated to outsider art
- Waypoint Driving SchoolsponsorEvent sponsor supporting the fair's operations
- God's Love We DeliverbeneficiaryCharitable beneficiary partner for fair-related fundraising initiatives
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc) competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Independent Art Fair: A New York-based art fair focused on emerging and established contemporary galleries, held annually in spring. Directly comparable as a smaller, curated NYC art fair targeting galleries and collectors in a similar event-driven GTM motion.
- Spring/Break Art Show: A NYC-based art fair held during Armory Week that focuses on independent and emerging curators and galleries. Comparable in size and structure as a smaller, curated NYC fair with similar exhibitor- and attendance-driven economics.
- The Armory Show: A major annual contemporary art fair held annually in New York City at the Javits Center. Comparable as a NYC-based art fair operating in the same exhibition ecosystem with similar exhibitor fee and attendance-driven revenue model, though focused on contemporary rather than outsider art.
- 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair: An art fair dedicated to contemporary African art with editions in New York, London, and Marrakech. Comparable as a category-specific fair carving out a defined niche within the broader art fair ecosystem, serving galleries, collectors, and cultural institutions.
- ADAA Art Show: The Art Dealers Association of America Art Show, a longstanding NYC fair featuring member galleries. Comparable as a curated art fair with a defined exhibitor membership model and similar target buyer (collectors and serious art buyers).
Broad incumbents
- Affordable Art Fair: A global art fair franchise operating in multiple cities focused on accessible price points for first-time collectors. Comparable as an event-driven art fair business with merchandise and digital extensions, though at broader price positioning and larger scale.
- Frieze: A global art fair operator (Frieze London, Frieze New York, Frieze Los Angeles) backed by significant media and capital resources. Comparable as an art fair operator with similar exhibitor fee model and collector audience, though operating at much larger scale and broader contemporary art focus.
- Art Basel: The world's premier global art fair brand with editions in Basel, Miami Beach, Hong Kong, and Paris. Comparable as the dominant global art fair operator with similar exhibitor-driven business model, though operating at vastly larger scale and broader contemporary scope.
- TEFAF: The European Fine Art Fair held annually in Maastricht with a New York edition. Comparable as a high-end art fair with rigorous vetting and exhibitor-fee-based model, though focused on fine and decorative art rather than outsider art specifically.
Regional players
- EXPO Chicago: A contemporary art fair held annually in Chicago. Comparable as a regional US art fair with similar exhibitor-driven model, serving a different geographic collector base and providing insight into scaling art fair operations in single non-NYC markets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc) social profiles
Digital presenceOutsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc) financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc) leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc) funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc) M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc)
What does Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc) do?
Outsider Art Fair organizes an annual art fair at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City, dedicated exclusively to self-taught art, art brut, and outsider art. The 34th edition in 2026 featured 68 exhibitors including 13 debuting galleries, with the 35th edition scheduled for March 18-21, 2027. Supporting offerings include branded merchandise sales, a digital exhibition platform via Arcual, and educational content through The Field.
Is Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc) a public or private company?
Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc) is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc) founded?
Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc) was founded in 1993. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc) based?
Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc) is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc) make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Exhibitor Fees are the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales.
Who are Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc)'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Independent Art Fair, Spring/Break Art Show, The Armory Show, 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair and ADAA Art Show. Broad incumbents are Affordable Art Fair, Frieze, Art Basel and TEFAF. EXPO Chicago is listed as a regional player.
Does Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc) have an API?
No public API is recorded for Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc).
What industry is Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc) in?
Outsider Art Fair (wide Open Arts, Llc)'s product category is Art Fair and Event Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAFAA, General Consumer Expos & Trade Shows, with a secondary code of THAJADAH, Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit). Its NAICS code is 7121 and its SIC code is 7990.