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The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art

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Henry Darger Room Collection
In spring 2000, Intuit took possession of the contents of artist Henry Darger’s living and working space, which was located at 851 Webster Street in Chicago. Intuit’s Henry Darger Room Collection includes tracings, clippings from newspapers, magazines, comic books, cartoons, children’s books, coloring books, personal documents, and architectural elements, fixtures, and furnishings from Darger’s original room.

Darger lived in a one-room apartment in Chicago’s Lincoln Park until 1973 when he retired to a nursing facility. In his small room—which doubled as his studio and home for close to 40 years—he worked on a large number of painted and collaged drawings that illustrated the story of the Vivian Girls, created volumes of writings, and collected hundreds of objects (shoes, eyeglasses, balls of string, etc.). The contrast between the intimate scale of the room and the staggering volume of drawings, illustrations, writings, and collections, conveys vital information about Darger’s existence and the work he created.

The goal of this permanent exhibit is to create an environment that provides a window onto Darger’s world. The installation will symbolize the stark contrasts that are so vividly portrayed in Darger’s vast and complex oeuvre. Experiencing Darger’s personal environment through the installation will provide an important link to the man who struggled relentlessly throughout his life to give expression to the polarized spectrum of humanity. The archive and material represents a vital resource and the installation 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.
Henry Darger's Apartment
Henry Darger's Apartment
Photo by Michael Boruch

Intuit's Henry Darger Room Collection
Intuit's Henry Darger Room Collection
Photo by John Faier


From 851 West Webster to Intuit
Read essays by co-curators Jessica Moss and Lisa Stone here.

Henry Darger's Typewriter
Intuit's Henry Darger Room Collection
Photo by John Faier
Many thanks: to the late Nathan Lerner for discovering the genius of Henry Darger and to Kiyoko Lerner for her generous gift of the contents of Henry Darger’s room to Intuit. Sincere thanks to all donors and contributors: Robert A. Roth, for his critical financial support and for acquiring and loaning the Vivian Girl portraits, and Kohler Foundation, Inc., John MacGregor, Patrick King/Midwest Freeze Dry, Kavi Gupta, Jim Zanzi, Barbara and Kent Manning, The Roads Scholarship for Research and Travel/The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and contributors to the Darger’s Army fund. This project is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. Sincere thanks to all who contributed to the process of creating the Henry Darger Room Collection. Measured drawings: Larry Harris, Kent Manning. Interior architecture: Angie Mills. Packing/moving Darger room contents: Stuart Grannan/Architectural Artifacts staff, Mike and Jim Hinchsliff, Tim and Katie Tuten and the Hideout staff, Judy Saslow, Randy Vick, Jamie Young, and all volunteers. Darger Room collection catalog: Juliana Driever, Jessica Moss, Farris Wahbeh. Conservation consultation and treatment: David Chandler, Dan Cochrane Conservation, Margo McFarland. Production, construction, room preparation: Sherry Diaz, for expert carpentry, design, and preparation, and Matthew DuPont, James Connolly, David Olfasen, Jan Petry. Photography: William Bengtson, John Faier. Print Art Direction: David Syrek and Joe Darrow.

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© Intuit 2007   756 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622 • (phone) 312.243.9088 • (fax) 312.243.9089 • intuit@art.org
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.