Collection: Jon Sarkin

Jon Sarkin (1953–2024) was a self-taught American artist whose obsessive, kaleidoscopic style made him a singular force in contemporary outsider art. Based in Gloucester, MA, Sarkin began drawing compulsively after a life-altering stroke in 1989, which ended his career as a chiropractor but unleashed a torrent of creative energy.

His densely layered works—filled with text, pop culture icons, music references, and surreal faces—have been exhibited globally and collected by institutions like the Centre Pompidou, the American Visionary Art Museum, and the DeCordova Museum. Sarkin’s story and process have been featured in The New Yorker, NPR, The Guardian, and the book Shadows Bright as Glass.

Even after his death, his art continues to resonate—raw, vital, and defiantly alive. His former studio is now Fish City Studios, a gallery dedicated to preserving his legacy and promoting outsider art.

Photo by Tom Robinson-Cox.

For more information, visit https://jonsarkin.com