Yard Dog -- Folk Art of the South

(image by artist Welmon Sharlhorne)

YARD DOG FOLK ART specializes in folk, outsider and self-taught art of the American South. Many of the artists whose work we carry are well-known to those familiar with the field, while others are either known only to a few or are recent "discoveries" of ours.

Gallery Hours
Wed.- Sat. 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday - Noon to 5:00 PM

Gallery Address
1510 S. Congress Ave
Austin, Texas 78704

Gallery Phone
(512) 912-1613

Folk Art is art made by ordinary people, usually people of limited means, made of common materials, and made for humble purposes. It arises from the daily material, emotional and spiritual needs of these people and is thus more related to their lives than to a tradition of art. Further, because it is made by people who tend to express themselves and their beliefs in a direct and forthright manner, folk art is refreshingly free from irony and cynicism.

Outsider Art refers to art made outside the influence of an artistic tradition. It is art made for very singular, personal reasons, and includes, but isn't limited to, the work of people with psychological problems.

Self-Taught Art, another term often used to describe this field, simply means that the artists didn't go to school to learn how to do what they do. All three of these terms are used -- by different people -- to describe the same works of art. This, of course, can be very confusing. Here at Yard Dog Folk Art, we tend to call it folk art. But whether you call it folk, outsider, or self-taught art, it describes art made by people of an independent spirit who create unique, idiosyncratic, highly personal work.

---

Check out the galleries, some interesting art from everyday people.