Jon Sarkin and the Question of “Good” Art: Tracing the Mind of an Outsider Visionary

When is art considered “good”? This age-old question has long sparked debates among artists, curators, critics, and audiences alike. But some artists challenge the very foundation of this question. Jon Sarkin is one of those rare, transformative figures.

Who Was Jon Sarkin?

Jon Sarkin’s journey into the art world was anything but conventional. In 1988, at the age of 35, he suffered a stroke during surgery to treat tinnitus. Surgeons removed part of the left side of his brain, and when he emerged, something had changed. Sarkin became obsessed with creating art — not as a hobby, but as a compulsion. Over the decades, he produced more than 20,000 pieces, turning his Gloucester, Massachusetts studio into a wellspring of visual expression.

What Is Outsider Art — And Does Sarkin Fit In?

Sarkin is frequently labeled an “outsider artist”, a term used for creators without formal training or ties to the traditional art world. While “outsider art” often connotes naivety or lack of self-awareness, Sarkin’s work defies that notion. His pieces are layered, ironic, and visually complex — filled with surreal imagery, cartoonish figures, and witty streams of consciousness. His methods align more with Surrealism, Neo-Dada, and Beat Generation writers than with naïve art.

Redefining Meaning: 

“Is It Still a Fish?”

One of Sarkin’s most intriguing series, “Is It Still a Fish?”, offers a playful yet philosophical exploration of perception and language. In one drawing, a highly abstract form is surrounded by the word “fish” written dozens of times. The piece mocks our need to label, raising a profound question: Does repetition of the word “fish” make a non-fish image into a fish? It’s postmodern, funny, and startlingly clever.

No Artist Statement — Does That Matter?

Sarkin never wrote an artist statement. For viewers accustomed to reading wall texts to decode meaning, this can be unsettling. But his work doesn’t need a formal explanation. It grabs you emotionally first — and intellectually second. It’s raw, immediate, and strangely coherent in its chaos. Art should make you feel something before it makes you think, and Sarkin’s art does both.

So… What Makes Art “Good”?

Sarkin’s art pushes us to redefine what we consider good. Technical precision? Not necessarily. Emotional resonance, originality, and lingering impact? Absolutely. His work challenges conventional categories, inviting us to engage with art on a more visceral level.

Good art might disturb you, enchant you, make you laugh, or simply make you pause. Jon Sarkin’s work manages to do all of the above — sometimes all at once.