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Albert Louden's parents had been evacuated from the East End of London where they returned after the second world war. Louden left school at fifteen and began work as a van driver. When he was nineteen he started to draw in oil pastels and watercolour on paper laid out on the floor. He first received recognition as an Outsider artist in the seminal show at the Hayward Gallery in 1979. Louden's work comes from the unconscious. His pictures are characterized by bulbous, brightly coloured, cartoon-like figures. And his work is always untitled. He explains: 'I don't know when I start to do a picture, who will come to visit me'. Louden is an exception to the Outsider collection in that he refers to catalogues and art books. In fact he no longer considers himself an Outsider artist. He currently lives and works in London.

Albert Louden undated Courtesy of Tate Archive Photo credit: Michael Woods view larger image		Letter from Albert Louden to Monika Kinley Date unknown Courtesy of Tate Archive and the artist view larger image		Letter from Albert Louden to Monika Kinley Date unknown Courtesy of Tate Archive view larger image
Outsiders flyer featuring a work by Albert Louden 1986 Courtesy of Tate Archive view larger image		Albert Louden 1987 Courtesy of Tate Archive Photo credit: Tom Picton view larger image		Untitled undated Watercolour on paper Courtesy of the artist and the Musgrave Kinley Outsider Collection view larger image

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