Artist as Outlaw Day

By some definitions, a true artist is one who breaks rules, shifts an art form in new directions, and makes people think in new ways, all while remaining true to their own artistic vision. These earthshaking artists can be seen as outlaws, as they rebel against the conventions of their time. While most outlaw artists forever remain outside of the mainstream, some popular stars have introduced avant-garde concepts and ideas—the Beatles and Bob Dylan being two examples. We celebrate all outlaw artists today, whether they work in visual arts, music, film, writing, or any other type of art.

How to Observe Artist as Outlaw Day

You could celebrate the day by making your art, or by exploring artists who can be classified as outlaw artists. There are hundreds of such artists, and some may be considered outlaws more so than others. The definition of who qualifies as an outlaw will shift depending on who you ask as well. The following is a list of some people who come to mind when we think of outlaw artists:

• Alejandro Jodorowsky
• Allen Ginsberg
• Andy Warhol
• Captain Beefheart
• David Lynch
• Frank Zappa
• Franz Kafka
• Gilda Radner
• Hal Ashby
• Hedy Lamarr
• Ida Lupino
• Jack Kerouac
• Jackson Pollock
• James Joyce
• Jean-Michel Basquiat
• Jim Jarmusch
• John Cage
• John Cassavetes
• John Coltrane
• John Zorn
• Johnny Cash
• Johnny Thunders
• Ken Kesey
• Laurie Anderson
• Lawrence Ferlinghetti
• Lenny Bruce
• Lou Reed
• Moondog
• Patti Smith
• Rahsaan Roland Kirk
• The Ramones
• Richard Pryor
• Robert Altman
• Roger Corman
• Salvador Dalí
• Samuel Beckett
• Stanley Kubrick
• The Stooges
• Sun Ra
• Terry Allen
• Tom Waits
• Waylon Jennings
• William S. Burroughs
• Willie Nelson
• Yoko Ono

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