outsider art by Joseph Yoakum
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The Picture Tells the Story:
The Drawings of Joseph E. Yoakum


January 16, 2009 - January 9, 2010
Opening Reception: Friday, January 16, 5-8pm


Intuit is excited to present an exhibition of Joseph Yoakum’s visionary landscapes, curated by Mark Pascale, caretaker of Whitney Halstead’s collection bequeathed to the Art Institute of Chicago in 1979. Halstead was an early collector and advocate for Yoakum’s work and his collection includes a number of exceptional works by Yoakum.

Over the course of his short career, Yoakum drew with a minimal variety of tools, and exclusively on papers of average quality. The vast majority of the drawings are inscribed with specific locations—allegedly identifying the location depicted. Yoakum referred to his drawing process as a “Spiritual Unfoldment.” Although he never fully explained this mysterious process, in essence, it involved his making the drawing and coming to a realization of where or what the image depicted. Once he achieved this conclusion, he inscribed the drawing with the location. Everyone who has admired a Yoakum drawing has asked himself or herself whether, in fact, the drawing truly represents the place that Yoakum has identified so precisely. While the drawings may resemble general or specific features of a place in his professed travel itineraries, what matters most in the end is how Yoakum drew it.

Intuit has also published a catalog in conjunction with the exhibition and can be purchased in our gift shop or online.
Grizzly Gulch Valley Ohansburg Vermont by Joseph Yoakum

Joseph E. Yoakum
Grizzly Gulch Valley Ohansburg Vermont
Collection of Ray Yoshida




Click here to view this
exhibition on Flickr


Title Unknown by Joseph Yoakum

Joseph E. Yoakum
Title unknown
Collection of Lisa Stone and Don Howlett



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© Intuit 2007   756 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60642 • (phone) 312.243.9088 • (fax) 312.243.9089 • intuit@art.org
Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art promotes public awareness, understanding, and appreciation of intuitive and outsider art through education,
exhibition, collecting and publishing.  Intuit defines ‘intuitive and outsider art’ as the work of artists who demonstrate little influence from the mainstream art world,
and who instead are motivated by their unique personal vision. This definition includes art brut, non-traditional folk art, self-taught art, and visionary art.