John Outterbridge (March 12, 1933 – November 12, 2020) was an American artist and community activist who lived and worked in Los Angeles, California.

His work explores the issues surrounding personal identity such as family, community and the environment through the use of discarded materials.

[4] His college education began at the Agricultural and Technical University in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he studied to become a mechanical engineer.

[7] During a tour of duty in Europe, Outterbridge visited museums and painted street scenes from life in his spare time.

Through this, Outterbridge befriended artists who were interested in the same subject matter— such as David Hammons, Timothy Washington, and John T. Riddle Jr.—and revived the California Assemblage Movement, where he would become a prominent figure.

[11] Case in Point confronts the racist reality of African Americans at home after serving the country in the Korean War.

[citation needed] Although Outterbridge lived a relatively successful life, his pursuits into education and community activism did take a toll on his artistic career.

[1] Coupled with the quiet segregation of the art world up till the 21st century, Outterbridge did not receive much acclaim from his work outside of the West Coast until 1994.

[8][12] He represented the United States at the São Paulo Biennale in a show called The Art of Betye Saar and John Outterbridge: The Poetics of Politics, Iconography and Spirituality.