Folk Art Paintings
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.
Late 20th Century Haitian Folk Art Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
Late 20th Century Cuban Folk Art Paintings
Canvas, Paint
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Paintings
Canvas, Paint
1970s Tanzanian Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Paint
Mid-20th Century Haitian Folk Art Paintings
Paint
Early 20th Century Korean Folk Art Paintings
Textile, Brocade
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Paint
20th Century American Folk Art Paintings
Paper
1950s French Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Canvas
1950s Faeroese Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Paint
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Paintings
Textile, Paint
Mid-20th Century Ethiopian Folk Art Paintings
Canvas
1990s American Folk Art Paintings
Plywood
1960s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Acrylic
1970s American Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Paint
20th Century American Folk Art Paintings
Paper
Early 1800s English Antique Folk Art Paintings
Paper
1950s British Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Canvas
1980s American Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Paint
1970s American Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Paint
1870s German Antique Folk Art Paintings
Paper
20th Century American Folk Art Paintings
Canvas
Late 18th Century German Antique Folk Art Paintings
Paper
1970s Belgian Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Acrylic
1980s Balinese Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Canvas
Early 20th Century Japanese Folk Art Paintings
Silk
20th Century Haitian Folk Art Paintings
Canvas
Late 20th Century British Folk Art Paintings
Canvas, Paint
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Folk Art Paintings
Silk
20th Century Korean Folk Art Paintings
Wood, Silk, Paper
1950s Haitian Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Canvas, Wood
1920s Japanese Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Silk, Wood
1920s Japanese Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Wood, Silk
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Folk Art Paintings
Paper
1970s Indian Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Fabric, Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century Balinese Folk Art Paintings
Cotton, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art Paintings
Paint
Early 20th Century Mexican Folk Art Paintings
Tin
Early 20th Century Chinese Folk Art Paintings
Glass
Early 20th Century Chinese Folk Art Paintings
Glass
Early 20th Century Chinese Folk Art Paintings
Glass
1840s American Antique Folk Art Paintings
Other
1950s Haitian Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Paint
1940s American Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Canvas, Paint
20th Century Japanese Folk Art Paintings
Paper
1920s British Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Canvas, Paint
Mid-20th Century French Folk Art Paintings
Canvas, Paint
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Paintings
Canvas