Folk Art
Folk art is a genre of art that shares the creator’s traditions, offering not just an artistic display but an opportunity to learn about a culture. Antique, new and vintage folk art typically reflects a heritage or location. It can include utilitarian objects and handmade art as diverse as weather vanes, duck decoys, portraiture and paintings, carnival art and quilts.
Quilts are a quintessential part of American folk art but their roots are international, with quilting dating back to Ancient Egypt. The practice spread to Europe and was especially prominent in the Middle Ages, with one of the oldest surviving examples being the Tristan quilt made in Sicily in the 14th century. They were made as bedcovers and clothing, including as a layer for knights to wear beneath their armor. Native American folk art includes functional objects reflecting their heritage, such as baskets, textiles and wooden pieces.
Elsewhere, the vast range of work associated with Mexican folk art includes masks made by Mexican craftspeople for traditional celebrations and ceremonial dances. Mexican masks are part of the country’s folk-art traditions that go back thousands of years and play a role in festivals and theater.
Works in the folk art tradition are valuable because of the skills involved, like weaving, hand-carving wood and even stonework. Many folk artists are self-taught, while some train as apprentices within their community. By using available materials and taking a personal approach to their creations, artists ensure each piece is unique and conveys a story.
During the Great Depression, artistic materials in America were hard to come by, so artisans used discarded wood from cigar boxes and shipping crates to make highly stylized, notched pieces — most often picture frames and boxes — that are today sought after by collectors. This folk art style is called tramp art and was popular from roughly 1870 until the 1940s.
Folk art brings vibrant culture and traditions into your home. Browse an extensive collection of antique, new and vintage folk art on 1stDibs.
21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art
Tin
21st Century and Contemporary Colombian Folk Art
Cedar, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Folk Art
Wood
Early 2000s American Folk Art
Canvas, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Folk Art
Wood
2010s Mexican Folk Art
Terracotta
Early 2000s American Folk Art
Canvas, Paint
2010s American Folk Art
Steel
2010s Spanish Folk Art
Ceramic, Clay, Paint
2010s Spanish Folk Art
Ceramic, Clay, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Folk Art
Acrylic, Wood
2010s Italian Folk Art
Gold Leaf
2010s Mexican Folk Art
Clay, Ceramic, Wood
2010s Italian Folk Art
Gold Leaf
Early 2000s American Folk Art
Aluminum
2010s Italian Folk Art
Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Folk Art
Gold Leaf
2010s North American Folk Art
Wood, Paint
2010s Italian Folk Art
Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Folk Art
Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Folk Art
Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Folk Art
Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Folk Art
Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Folk Art
Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Folk Art
Wool, Hemp
2010s Italian Folk Art
Gold Leaf
2010s American Folk Art
Canvas
2010s Italian Folk Art
Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Folk Art
Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Folk Art
Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Folk Art
Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Folk Art
Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Folk Art
Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Folk Art
Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Folk Art
Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Folk Art
Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Folk Art
Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Folk Art
Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Folk Art
Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Folk Art
Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Folk Art
Gold Leaf
2010s North American Folk Art
Metal, Wire
2010s Mexican Folk Art
Ceramic, Clay
Early 2000s Mexican Folk Art
Clay, Pottery, Terracotta
2010s Mexican Folk Art
Clay, Ceramic
2010s Mexican Folk Art
Clay, Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary Guatemalan Folk Art
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Folk Art
Wood, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art
Ceramic, Clay, Terracotta
2010s Mexican Folk Art
Clay, Ceramic, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Persian Folk Art
Wool
Early 2000s Australian Folk Art
Wood
2010s American Folk Art
Steel
2010s American Folk Art
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Folk Art
Acrylic, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Folk Art
Wood, Paint
2010s American Folk Art
Steel
2010s North American Folk Art
Metal, Wire