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Folk Art Photography

FOLK ART STYLE

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.

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Style: Folk Art
Jon Rhodes Signed Limited Ed Australian Aboriginal Art Silver Gelatin Photograph
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful, singular silver gelatin photographic print by renowned Australian photographer/artist titled "Uta Uta Tjangala's camp at Yayayi Bore, 1973" The one-off, unique work is hand pencil signed, titled, dated (printed in 1991), and numbered (1/1) by Rhodes in the lower margin. Jon Rhodes was born in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales in 1947. before moving at a young age to Brisbane, Queensland. He took up photography in the late 60s which eventually led him to documentary work as an assistant cinematographer in countries such as Australia, Papua New Guinea, and India where he developed his cinematic approach to photography. It was also in the 1970s that he began his collaborative work with the Indigenous Australian Aboriginal Peoples. Today Rhodes is widely viewed as a pioneer in bringing a high-art approach to documenting the lives of Aboriginal People living in remote communities. Rhodes's work can be found in numerous major Australian collections and prominent museums including: The Art Gallery Of New South Wales, Sydney The Museum of Australian Photography...
Category

1990s Australian Folk Art Photography

Materials

Wood, Paper

Jon Rhodes Signed Limited Ed Australian Aboriginal Art Silver Gelatin Photograph
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful, singular silver gelatin photographic print by renowned Australian photographer/artist titled "Uta Uta Tjangala and Yala Yala Tjungurrayi Gibbs at Yumari Rockhole, 1990" The one-off, unique work is hand pencil signed, titled, dated (printed in 1991), and numbered (1/1) by Rhodes in the lower margin. Jon Rhodes was born in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales in 1947. before moving at a young age to Brisbane, Queensland. He took up photography in the late 60s which eventually led him to documentary work as an assistant cinematographer in countries such as Australia, Papua New Guinea, and India where he developed his cinematic approach to photography. It was also in the 1970s that he began his collaborative work with the Indigenous Australian Aboriginal Peoples. Today Rhodes is widely viewed as a pioneer in bringing a high-art approach to documenting the lives of Aboriginal People living in remote communities. Rhodes's work can be found in numerous major Australian collections and prominent museums including: The Art Gallery Of New South Wales, Sydney The Museum of Australian Photography...
Category

1990s Australian Folk Art Photography

Materials

Wood, Paper

Jon Rhodes Signed Limited Ed Australian Aboriginal Art Silver Gelatin Photograph
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful, singular silver gelatin photographic print by renowned Australian photographer/artist titled "Uta Uta Tjangala and Yala Yala Tjungurrayi Gibbs at Yumari Rockhole, 1990" The one-off, unique work is hand pencil signed, titled, dated (printed in 1991), and numbered (1/1) by Rhodes in the lower margin. Jon Rhodes was born in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales in 1947. before moving at a young age to Brisbane, Queensland. He took up photography in the late 60s which eventually led him to documentary work as an assistant cinematographer in countries such as Australia, Papua New Guinea, and India where he developed his cinematic approach to photography. It was also in the 1970s that he began his collaborative work with the Indigenous Australian Aboriginal Peoples. Today Rhodes is widely viewed as a pioneer in bringing a high-art approach to documenting the lives of Aboriginal People living in remote communities. Rhodes's work can be found in numerous major Australian collections and prominent museums including: The Art Gallery Of New South Wales, Sydney The Museum of Australian Photography...
Category

1990s Australian Folk Art Photography

Materials

Wood, Paper

Moorish Style, Style Mauresque French Edition Hardcover Book
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Moorish style, style Mauresque – 1995 French Edition by Miles Danby (Author), Nordine Haddad (Translator) Presenting images of the architecture and decorative arts of the Islamic w...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

Original Photo of "El Santo" a Famous Mexican Wrestler
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1970, We offer this Original Photo of "El Santo" a famous Mexican Wrestler. Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta (23 September 1917 – 5 February 1984), known profes...
Category

1970s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

The Seven Stars Cookbook Recipes from World-Class Casino Hardcover Book
Located in North Hollywood, CA
The Seven Stars Cookbook: Recipes from World-Class Casino Restaurants. Harrah's Entertainment Presents The Seven Stars Cookbook: Recipes from World-Class Casino Restaurants. John S...
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

Picasso's Vollard Suite Book by Pablo Picasso
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Picasso's Vollard Suite Book by Pablo Picasso. Soft cover, Paperback "Picasso's most memorable etchings an extremely important as well as moving group of pictures." --"Art Review"...
Category

20th Century European Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

Royal Gardens Roy Strong 1992 Book 1st Edition
Located in North Hollywood, CA
With glorious color photographs, paintings, prints, and original designs, noted historian and author Sir Roy Strong presents Britain's royal gardens of today and yesterday--magnifice...
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20th Century American Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

The Complete Quincy Jones My Journey & Passions Hardcover Book
Located in North Hollywood, CA
The Complete Quincy Jones: My Journey & Passions: Photos, Letters, Memories & More from Q’s Personal Collection by Quincy Jones, Maya Angelou (Preface), ...
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

Lewis Carroll Observed Hardcover Book
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Lewis Carroll Observed A Collection of Unpublished Photographs, Drawings, Poetry and New Essays. GUILIANO, Edward edited by Published by Clarkson N. Potter, New York, 1976 An anth...
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20th Century American Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

Complete Book of Traditional Fair Isle Knitting by McGregor, Sheila, 1982
Located in North Hollywood, CA
The Complete Book Of Traditional Fair Isle Knitting by McGregor, Sheila. 1st Edition Published 1982 Title The Complete Book of Traditional Fair Isle Knitting Author McGregor, Shei...
Category

20th Century English Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

Complete Book of Traditional Aran Knitting by Shelagh Hollingworth 1982
Located in North Hollywood, CA
The Complete book of traditional Aran knitting Book by Shelagh Hollingworth. Collects patterns for knitting shirts, sweaters, jackets, coats, and other clothes in the style of the A...
Category

20th Century English Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

Holocaust Museum in Washington Hardcover 1995 by Jeshajahu Weinb Rina Elieli
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Holocaust Museum in Washington Hardcover – September 15, 1995 by Jeshajahu Weinberg, Rina Elieli Recounting the making of the United States Holocaus...
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

Complete Book of Traditional Fair Isle Knitting by McGregor, Sheila 1982
Located in North Hollywood, CA
The Complete Book Of Traditional Fair Isle Knitting By McGregor, Sheila. 1st Edition Published 1982 Title The Complete Book of Traditional Fair Isle Knitting Author McGregor, Shei...
Category

20th Century English Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

La Belle et la Bête Un Choix de Jeunes Artistes Americains Art Gallery Book
Located in North Hollywood, CA
La belle et la be^te: Un choix de jeunes artistes americains : Beauty ad the Beast, a choice of young American artist. Doug Aitken : 6 octobre-19 nove...
Category

20th Century French Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

Window on Sedona Living in the Land of the Red Rocks by Dottie Webster Book
Located in North Hollywood, CA
A Window on Sedona: Living in the Land of the Red Rocks by Dottie Webster. 1st Edition. If eyes are the "window of the soul," then windows are the eyes of our houses. In Sedona, t...
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

Savannah Then and Now by Stefan Sanmann and John Crowell Hardcover Book
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Savannah Then and Now by Stefan Sanmann and John Crowell Hardcover Book. Savannah: Then and Now Hardcover – January 1, 1997 by Stefan Sanmann (Author), John Crowell (Author), Jeffrey Crowell (Photographer) Photography - 172 pages Putting archive and contemporary photographs of the same landmark side-by-side, Savannah Then and Now is a visual chronicle of the city's past The early settlers of Savannah built their houses around a geometric street plan on a bluff above the Savannah River. They were aided by the Yamacraw tribe and their aged chief, Tomochichi, who became firm friends with Savannah's founder, Englishman James Oglethorpe, and both their names are commemorated across the city. Oglethorpe's vision for "open-space squares surrounded by the rhythmic placement of streets"would later earn Savannah the prestigious status of becoming a National Historic Landmark. Savannah boomed as the cotton trade expanded in the South, and by the mid-19th century the city was thriving as it exported cotton bales to Europe and acted as a staging post for travelers. During the Civil War, in 1864, Savannah was surrendered to General William T. Sherman following his March to the Sea, which began in Atlanta and ended in Savannah. Thankfully, General Sherman spared Savannah the torch, and the elegant Georgian residences were saved. However, it took a group of resolute Savannah ladies to preserve some of the best architecture in the city in the 1950s, as many historic buildings were scheduled for demolition. Their hard work and enterprise has helped preserve the city's architectural heritage. The book features images of some of the sites referenced in John Berendt's influential book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil such as Mercer House...
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20th Century American Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

The Spirit of New England Hardcover 1991 by Paul Nolan
Located in North Hollywood, CA
The Spirit of New England Hardcover – June 9, 1991 by Paul Nolan. Harris, Bill., Portland House, 1991, 1st U.S. Edition 1st Printing, cloth with gilt spine titles, 160 pp, colo...
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20th Century American Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

The Forties As Reported By The New York Times
Located in North Hollywood, CA
The Forties: As Reported By The New York Times By Keylin, Arleen; Cohen, Jonathan. Title The Forties: As Reported by the New York Times Author Keyli...
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

National Geographic The Photo Ark The Quest to Document the World's Animals
Located in North Hollywood, CA
National Geographic The Photo Ark: One Man's Quest to Document the World's Animals. Animal Ark: Celebrating our Wild World in Poetry and Pictures (National Geographic Kids) Hardcover – February 14, 2017 Synopsis: The lush and unique photography in this book represents National Geographic's Photo Ark, a major initiative and lifelong project by photographer Joel Sartore to make portraits of the world's animals—especially those that are endangered. His powerful message, conveyed with humor, compassion, and art: to know these animals is to save them. Animal Ark: Celebrating our Wild World in Poetry and Pictures (National Geographic Kids) Hardcover – February 14, 2017 by Kwame Alexander (Author), Mary Rand Hess (Author), Deanna Nikaido Sartore is circling the globe, visiting zoos and wildlife rescue centers to create studio portraits of 12,000 species, with an emphasis on those facing extinction. With a goal of photographing every animal in captivity in the world, he has photographed more than 6,000 already and now, thanks to a multi-year partnership with National Geographic, he may reach his goal. This book showcases his animal portraits: from tiny to mammoth, from the Florida grasshopper sparrow to the greater one-horned rhinoceros. Paired with the eloquent prose of veteran wildlife writer Douglas Chadwick, and an inspiring foreword from Harrison Ford, this book presents a thought-provoking argument for saving all the species of our planet. About the Author: JOEL SARTORE is a photographer, speaker, author, teacher, and a 25-year contributor to National Geographic magazine as well as Audubon, Geo, Time, Life, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated. He has written several books including National Geographic's Rare: Portraits of America's Endangered Species, Photographing Your Family, and Let's Be Reasonable, a collection of essays from the CBS Sunday Morning show. Sartore and his work have been the subjects of several national broadcasts, including the National Geographic Channel's Explorer, the NBC Nightly News, NPR's Weekend Edition, and an hour-long PBS documentary, At Close Range. He is also a contributor on the CBS Sunday Morning Show with Charles Osgood...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary North American Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

John Hay Whitney Collection Paperback, May 1, 1983 by John Rewald Book
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Authors: John Rewald. Publisher: Natl Gallery Of Art Keywords: collection, Whitney, john Pages: 176. Published: 1983-05. Publisher ? : ? Natl Gallery of Art; Language ? : ? English Paperback ? : ? 176 pages. Washington, 1983. 1st. Edition Softcover. Very Good / None. 176 pages, b&w and color illustrations. This is a beautiful coffee table collectible hardcover book. Overview: 73 paintings by 19th- and 20th-century European and American masters constituted almost the entire collection assembled by John Hay...
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

L'oeil Magazine International d'art n° 481 Spécial Maroc
Located in North Hollywood, CA
L'oeil Magazine International d'art n° 481 : Spécial Maroc The eye. International art magazine N ° 481: Special Morocco. Author: Collective Collection: The E...
Category

20th Century North American Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

Call of the Desert The Sahara Hardcover Book by Philippe Bourseiller
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Call of the Desert: The Sahara Hardcover Book. Philippe Bourseiller Harry N. Abrams, Nov 1, 2004 - Nature - 424 pages Photographer Bourseiller embarked on the first truly comprehe...
Category

Early 2000s African Folk Art Photography

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Paper

2010 California Biennial Orange County Museum of Art Paperback Hardcover Book
Located in North Hollywood, CA
2010 California Biennial orange County Museum of Art Paperback. January 1, 2011 by Sarah C. Bancroft (Author). Created for the Orange County Museum of...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary North American Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

Between Seer and Seen: Celebrating the Artists of Santa Barbara County Book
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Between Seer and Seen: Celebrating the Artists of Santa Barbara County Book by Mark Robert Halper. Composed of 71 portraits and 15 still life images photographed from January to De...
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

Terres Marocaines Nadia Demnati, France Marie Fiorese Book
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Terres marocaines ( Moroccan land) French book Nadia Demnati , France Marie Fiorese. 1997 , 48 pp Nadia Demnati , France, Marie Fiorese Photos with Artifacts in it Rencontres médit...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

Young Americans New American Art in the Saatchi Collection
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Young Americans: New American Art in the Saatchi Collection Book by Jeffrey Deitch Published to accompany exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery, London; 2...
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Late 20th Century English Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

Benares Seen from within by Richard Lannoy Hardcover Book
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Benares seen from within book by Richard Lannoy. "Lannoy's Benares is no tourist's idyll, nor yet is it an exercise in peddling a 'Third World' mythology of exotica garnished with g...
Category

Late 20th Century Indian Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

Contemporary Quilts from Traditional Designs by Mosey, Carol L
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Contemporary quilts from Traditional Designs by Mosey, Carol L Format/binding hardcover Book condition Used - fine Jacket condition Very good + First edition, first printing so...
Category

Late 20th Century American Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

Rarities in American Cut-Glass
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Rarities in American cut-glass. Index, black & white and color photographs. Book in very nice condition, head and tail of spine lightly bumped, light bump on top edge cover, light foxing inside front and rear covers, light insect depredation on open edges. Dust jacket has light foxing, chips and tiny tears to edges, rubs on back cover. First edition copy inscribed by author on first page, "Enjoy the Fine (five?) xxxxx (can't read it) pictured in the book. Herb Wiener." An exhibit of over 475 of the rarest pieces of cut glass ever to be manufactured in the United States. Wiener, Herb; Freda Lipkowitz Published by The Collectors House...
Category

Late 20th Century American Folk Art Photography

Materials

Paper

Folk Art photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Folk Art photography for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage photography created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with paper, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art photography made in a specific country, there are North America, United States, and Europe pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original photography, popular names associated with this style include Berber Tribes of Morocco, Lewis Carroll, and Pablo Picasso. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for photography differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $29 and tops out at $1,495 while the average work can sell for $85.

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