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.
1960s English Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Wood
1960s Serbian Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Paint
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Canvas, Paint
1960s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Acrylic
1960s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Acrylic, Wood
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Canvas, Paint
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Paintings
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Aluminum
1980s Czech Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Metal, Steel
Mid-20th Century Austrian Folk Art Paintings
Metal
1960s Unknown Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Paint
Mid-20th Century Unknown Folk Art Paintings
Masonite, Paint
1850s European Antique Folk Art Paintings
Canvas, Giltwood
Mid-20th Century Unknown Folk Art Paintings
Linen, Plaster, Wood, Paint, Canvas
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Canvas, Wood, Paint
Early 19th Century English Antique Folk Art Paintings
Brass
Late 20th Century Unknown Folk Art Paintings
Canvas, Wood, Paint
Late 20th Century French Folk Art Paintings
Other
20th Century American Folk Art Paintings
Wood, Paint
Mid-20th Century Japanese Folk Art Paintings
Fabric, Silk
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Canvas, Wood, Paint
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Plywood, Paint
1960s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Acrylic
1960s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Acrylic
1960s Belgian Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Acrylic
1960s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Wood, Paint, Canvas
1960s Argentine Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Fabric
1960s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Paint, Canvas, Wood
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Wood
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Masonite