Artist as Outlaw day is coming up this month. It’s a holiday I had never heard of before…but the pleasing combination of words was too intriguing to not look into further. This obscure holiday has an even more obscure history. So obscure not much could be found on why it started in the first place, or what it meant to celebrate by having its own day.

What an artistic thing to do…leave it to the audience’s interpretation.
I prefer the mystery of the holiday. It becomes easier to imagine what the creator meant by it…what an outlaw artist might be, and why we should celebrate it.

As we roll out the HeArtwork page, I thought it would be a great time to explore different artists throughout history, and how they were outlaws in their own ways. Whether they were bucking social norms, speaking out with their unpopular opinions, or using their paintings, music, writing, comedy and bodies as a form of protest — artists are outlaw-ish by nature. There are many examples of these radical individuals using their particular form of HeArtwork to express that nature. And there’s many examples of these acts changing the way we view ourselves and the world. While the outlaw may be vilified, condemned, shunned and mocked, they have a way of cracking open our perspectives and shifting the way we see and feel.

And we’re going to explore that this month. And maybe beyond… because the world benefits from these outlaws more than one month a year. And there are so many HeArtwork activists out there, a month wouldn’t allow enough time to skim the surface. It’s my hope that each outlaw will bring a fire to your own heart… and give you the courage to speak it, regardless of how popular it may or may not be.

I hope you enjoy our series. Leave a comment. Share your thoughts. Got suggestions for an outlaw to feature? Let us know!

Until next time rebel rousers…