James Pierce, as a renown art historian and art collector, had a special interest in folk and outsider art. Folk artists traditionally learn from others, with skills being passed from person to person throughout generations, often through apprenticeships. Outsider art refers to art made by those who are untrained or self-taught. Sometimes called 'naive art' or 'primitive art', the makers of these works have garnered a significant following, which ranges from academics and museum curators to serious collectors.

Within this collection is also what would be considered 'found object art' or ‘objet trouvé’. Found object art refers to objects that existed prior to the artist's intervention and could perhaps be included in an exhibition as a work of art on their own, could inspire other works of art for the artist, or could become part of another work of art through assemblage. UND Art Collections has examples of each in its collections and some of those are included here.

All of the pieces of art in this collection are from Pierce's personal estate, acquired by UND Art Collections in 2012.