In early 1991, a small group of artists, collectors, art dealers, and business people began discussing the feasibility of a formal structure devoted to intuitive and outsider art. In June, the founding few invited like-minded others to a public meeting in order to launch the organization and help determine its future course. Incredibly, nearly 80 people attended that first meeting, challenging those in attendance to build a more formal organizational structure. Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art was established at that time as a nonprofit cultural organization to recognize the creative work of individuals who demonstrate little influence from the mainstream art world -- artists who instead seem motivated by their unique personal visions. - Intuits mission is to promote public awareness of visionary, intuitive, and outsider art. Intuit strengthens and enhances Chicago's local community as the only not-for-profit facility for exhibitions, lectures, and educational activities related to visionary, intuitive and outsider art. - -

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.

Since its inception, more than 50,000 people have attended Intuits widely acclaimed exhibition and programs. Intuit has presented nearly 100 outstanding exhibits, dozens of educational slide lectures and documentary film and video screenings, and study tours of outsider art sites throughout the US. Intuit publishes a bi-annual magazine, The Outsider, which is the centers primary educational tool, enabling Intuit to inform and educate an estimated readership of more than 10,000 around the world. Intuits School Outreach Program Intuit believes that exposing students to the aesthetics and life experiences of outsider artists facilitates realization of a unique and personal vision. Moreover, we feature a roster of artists whose capacity for creative expression is not limited by a lack of formal academic training, privilege, or access to professional materials. In 2006-2007, Intuit worked wit 10 educators from Chicago Public Schools: Brooks College Preparatory Academy (250 East 111th Street), Roberto Clemente HS (1147 N. Western Ave), Jones College Prep (606 S. State Street), Wells Community Academy High School (936 N. Ashland), and Morton West High School (2400 South Home Ave., Berwyn). As a small nonprofit with only three full-time staff, Intuit maximizes its effectiveness by educating teachers. The Teacher Fellowship Program includes lectures, visits with outsider artists, tours of outsider art collections and environments, and access to Intuits Study Collection library materials. In addition each teacher is given a stipend of $500 for art materials. These components give participating teachers necessary tools, materials, and information to effectively incorporate outsider art into their curriculum. The teachers create and implement outsider art lesson plans in their classrooms which culminate in an exhibition. From April 17 through May 10, 2007, student work was exhibited at Gallery 37, 66 E. Randolph. The opening night reception was a proud moment for parent, teachers and students who saw the art in a gallery setting. Study Center The Robert A Roth Study Center represents an important step in the advancement of Intuits future by fulfilling our educational mission. The study collection features an extensive archive of books, catalogues, periodicals, slides, photographs, videotapes, and other materials pertinent to the field of art brut and outsider art. In 2005, prominent scholar John M. MacGregor, author of The Discovery of the Art of the Insane, donated his exceptional library to the Robert A. Roth Study Center. MacGregors gift contains approximately 1,000 titles, the bulk of which are unique scholarly materials unavailable in other national and international libraries. Organization of the library materials, including the creation of an on-line library catalog was completed and available to the public in September 2006. Darger Room Collection In 2000, Intuit acquired the extensive contents of Henry Dargers living and working space, including tracings, clippings from newspapers, magazines, comic books, cartoons, childrens books, coloring books, personal documents, and architectural elements, fixtures, and furnishings. Henry Darger, considered to be the most significant outsider artist in American history, created fantastical drawings related to his 15,000 page novel that recounts the exploits of the Vivian Girls. The permanent installation featuring Intuits unique holdings of Dargers material opened to the public in January 18 2008 in conjunction with an exhibit at Intuit and the Smart Museum. By preserving and presenting as many elements of the original living environment, the installation provides a window into Dargers world. The archive and material will enhance the understanding and appreciation of the art of Henry Darger by providing artists, scholars, and the public access to a unique and innovative archive of study materials.