Art has existed in various forms since time immemorial. Talented and insightful creatives have been exploring the world and presenting their interpretations to the public long before the advent of formal art education. Yet, since the moment of art professionalization, a degree has weirdly become part and parcel of an artist’s perception. Here, we discuss three famous self-taught artists and try to understand why the unrefined, natural talent has so much impact on the art community.

What Is a Self-Taught Artist?

In the broadest sense of this word, a self-taught artist is a person who produces artwork as a full-time professional vocation but has no formal training in this area. Most artists start their career path with prestigious educational courses, as these programs give them a basic understanding of art techniques, schools, and trends and equip them with industry contacts and inspiring teachers.

Why Do Self-Taught Artists Enchant the Public So Much?

The charm inherent in the concept of self-taught artist (importantly, a successful self-taught artist) is in overcoming the widespread stigma about a lack of training. It is typically hard to get employed in the art industry or have one’s artwork recognized without the impressive name of an art institution on a diploma. That’s why people who have made it to people’s hearts despite being untrained are regarded as anomalies.

Top 3 Famous Self-Taught Artists You Should Know

So, what about the world’s best-known creatives with a global impact and without formal education? Here is a list of famous self-taught artists you should get to know better.

Jean-Michel Basquiat

Despite his untimely, tragic death at the age of 28, Jean-Michel Basquiat left a significant trace in contemporary American art. A student and friend of Andy Warhol, Basquiat went down into art history with bold aboriginal motifs, a deeply symbolic visual language, and an iconic neo-Expressionist style.

Yoko Ono

More widely known as John Lennon’s wife, Yoko Ono studied philosophy in Japan and then shifted to experimental visual art fusions with music. She is known for redefining performance and creating new trends with more active viewer participation.

Dieter Roth

This German artist without formal education experimented with diverse media, such as sculpture, painting, video art, music, and poetry, among others. His art philosophy was grounded on the subversion of traditional principles of authorship, allowing the artist to offer unique interpretations of beauty, nature, and esthetic objects.

This is far from a complete list of self-taught creatives who have impressed the global art community with talented works and a unique visual language. Read more about talented autodidacts in other posts on our blog.