American Folk Art from the Nelson-Atkins

Admission is free.

What is folk art?

The term is broad and often difficult to define. A diverse range of objects—from bedspreads to painted portraits—has been grouped as folk art since the term was first used in the early 1900s. Folk art like that featured in this small exhibition was produced by artists and artisans creating outside of art academies.

The works on view on the second floor of the Nelson-Atkins building offer a taste of folk art through objects from the museum’s permanent collection. Created by men and women of all ages, they span more than 150 years, produced from 1795 to 1953.

Since the opening of the Nelson-Atkins in 1933, its holdings have included a small collection of American folk art. Some of these works are being shown for the first time, reaffirming the museum’s interest in collecting and exhibiting folk art.