American Folk Art Museum Museum

Address: 2 Lincoln Square (near Lincoln Center), New York, NY 10023, United States

Website: https://folkartmuseum.org

Hours: Tue-Sun 11am-5pm, closed Mondays (hours may vary for special exhibitions)

Admission: Suggested donation; admission often free for general galleries (special exhibitions may charge)

The American Folk Art Museum is a museum in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, dedicated to American self-taught and vernacular art. It was founded in 1961 and has built a substantial collection of works by self-taught artists.

Galleries present paintings, quilts, carved figures, furniture, and other forms of material culture created outside formal academic traditions; the permanent holdings exceed several thousand objects. The program includes rotating temporary exhibitions and public programs focused on research and contemporary practitioners.

Established in 1961 as an institution to collect, study, and exhibit American folk and self-taught art, the museum expanded its holdings and exhibition program over the late 20th century. Its collection development and exhibition work have positioned it as a leading U.S. center for nonacademic American art.

The museum sits in the Lincoln Square/Lincoln Center area of Manhattan, New York City, on the west side of Manhattan near major cultural venues and transit connections.

• Collection size: Holds more than 7,000 objects spanning 18th-century material culture to contemporary self-taught artists.
• Location and access: Located in the Lincoln Square area of Manhattan, adjacent to Lincoln Center, making it easy to combine with nearby performing-arts visits.

From the A/B/C/D/1/2/3 subway lines, exit at 59th Street-Columbus Circle and walk ~10 minutes east; the museum sits on the Lincoln Center campus. Numerous bus routes serve Broadway and Columbus Avenue nearby.

• Combine a visit with Lincoln Center and nearby museums-the museum is small and pairs well with a half-day in the area.
• Check the website for rotating exhibits and any temporary closures-the institution frequently loans works to other museums.
• Look for the folk art labels that identify makers; many pieces are by self-taught artists with fascinating provenance.