Founded by Sandy Smith in 1993, the Outsider Art Fair soon became a critical and commercial success. Recognized for its maverick spirit, the fair played a vital role in building a passionate collecting community as crowds flocked annually to New York's Puck Building, the event's original site during its first 15 years. In 2012, OAF was acquired by Wide Open Arts, a new company formed by art dealer Andrew Edlin. Its debut edition in 2013 saw the fair relocated to Center 548 in Chelsea and included guest curatorial projects and the OAF Talks program. OAF continues its tradition of presenting top dealers with prime examples of works by both legendary and newly discovered artists. The 2013 fair enjoyed rave reviews and more than tripled previous attendance levels.