Norris Embry (January 14, 1921 – February 17, 1981) was an American artist associated with Neo-Expressionism, Art Brut, and Outsider Art, born in Louisville, Kentucky. He spent his formative years in East Orange, New Jersey, near New York City, and Evanston, Illinois, in the Chicago area, attending public schools until high school. Later, he pursued his education at St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland, and the Art Institute in Chicago.
In the late 1940s, Embry attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy, where he studied under the expressionist painter Oskar Kokoschka, whose influence shaped his artistic style. Embry's work was marked by a blend of Neo-Expressionism, Art Brut, and Outsider Art, often exploring themes of inner turmoil and the human condition. He is recognized as a pioneering figure in contemporary art, known for his bold experimentation and expressive compositions.