Museum of International Folk Art

Museum · Santa Fe

Museum of International Folk Art

Museum · Santa Fe

4

On Museum Hill, 706 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM 87505

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Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null
Museum of International Folk Art by null

Highlights

Nestled in Santa Fe's Museum Hill, the Museum of International Folk Art dazzles with its vibrant collections of global folk art, particularly the enchanting Girard collection, inviting visitors to explore a kaleidoscope of worldly creativity.  

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On Museum Hill, 706 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM 87505 Get directions

moifa.org
@museumofinternationalfolkart

Information

Static Map

On Museum Hill, 706 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM 87505 Get directions

+1 505 476 1204
moifa.org
@museumofinternationalfolkart
𝕏
@NMM_IntFolkArt

Features

restroom
crowd family friendly
wheelchair accessible parking lot
wheelchair accessible entrance
wheelchair accessible restroom

Last updated

Jul 30, 2025

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@cntraveler

In Northern New Mexico, the Desert's Striking Beauty Is on Full Display in the Winter

"Make time for the Alexander Girard collection at the Museum of International Folk Art."

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/northern-new-mexico-winter-guide
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@cntraveler

A Local’s Guide to New Mexico, USA

"One of my favorite places to send friends is to the International Folk Museum."

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/new-mexico-amy-denet-deal-locals-guide
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@davidcho

Museum recommended by Bex! "Colorful, chaotic, collections and I wish I had visited sooner, to be honest."

Santa Fe
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@rebecca

Colorful, chaotic, collections and I wish I had visited sooner, to be honest.

Pattern of hills and trees around lake
Santa Fe
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Anand

Google
This museum is truly unique and unlike anything I’ve seen before. It showcases folk art from around the world, and the sheer number of objects on display is impressive. The guidebook is comprehensive, providing detailed information about the origins of the art. If you’re interested in this kind of art, you could easily spend a lot of time here. They also had a fascinating temporary exhibit featuring South African art made from telephone wire, which was both unique and wonderful to see. I highly recommend visiting this place.

Steve Hartig

Google
Really a fun and unique museum. The galleries are all very different. My wife and I have been to many art museums but this brings a completely different perspective. We particularly enjoyed the exhibit on South African phone wire weaving which is an amazing demonstration of taking waste and making art from it. We spent about 2 hours wandering which seemed to be a nice amount of time. We were also nicely surprised to find out Wednesday is New Mexican Seniors get in free day.

Rachael Novak

Google
We came up to MOIFA on a whim because I wasn’t sure how kid-friendly it was. There is an adorable little play area for kids that my 4 and 7 year old loved. The scavenger hunt was also a lot of fun and engaging for my kids. They loved the exhibit on the art of piñata making. I wanted to go into the beautiful gift shop area but that wasn’t as safe a bet with kiddos, so, next time! Also- kids are free (10 and under if I recall correctly- but double check if it’s relevant to you).

Rhianna

Google
There was so much to see, and all of the exhibits were fantastic. The telephone wire and prison art shows were wonderful. We each took a different scavenger hunt pamphlet from the front desk for the permanent collection. Even loved the gift shop. Actually, the whole Museum Hill area is wonderful and would take easily a week to explore it all.

She Ash

Google
This museum has a large variety of exhibits and objects to enjoy learning about. I enjoyed the folk art miniatures and toys. Don't miss the beautiful museum grounds outside the surrounding this museum building.

Douglas A. Johnson

Google
Museum of International Folk Art is an excellent art museum featuring folk art from around the world. It also has an excellent gift shop with items similar to what are displayed in the museum. The museum staff is very friendly and go out of their way to help!

Safa Hasan

Google
It was Sunday when I visited and it was FREE! The museum is really not what expected! Really rich in culture, art and really neat gift shops. I did enjoy the cultural village where they display figures and artifacts from all around the world! I highly recommend visiting!!

Cindy Morgan

Google
I have toured this museum at least 5 times in the last two years and I always find new things to appreciate and enjoy. The exhibits are phenomenal and well designed. There is something for everyone.
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Kate W.

Yelp
wonderful, unique museum. the whole place (including the grounds outside) was impressive. the girard collection knocked my socks off. i could've probably spent days in there, and i want to go back someday. just enchanting. i will also say the gift shop was wonderful and we had lunch at the restaurant which was really fresh and tasty.
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Kate A.

Yelp
The museum has an impressive collection of folk art from around the world and throughout many decades. However, pieces in the main exhibit are without context or explanation. There's no attributions to artists, years, or even geographic origin provided for most of the collection. It's all fun to look at but I don't feel like we learned a lot. It feels rather chaotic and jam-packed. More signage and labeling would go a long way toward improving the museum. Temporary exhibits were much more satisfying, particularly the one we caught focusing on work by incarcerated individuals. I hope the caretakers of the extensive permanent collection make their way through the pieces and give each one the provenance and space it deserves.
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David P.

Yelp
On Museum Hill, near the botanical gardens and the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, this is well worth your time. The museum features, among other interesting displays, the amazing collection of Alexander H Girard, who traveled the world collecting artifacts and indigenous arts and crafts, especially baskets from around the world.
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Valerie A.

Yelp
A fantastic museum! Filled with folk art from all over the world plus temporary exhibits. It's somewhat overwhelming! Allow a couple hours. There are two gift shops. This museum is on a hill along with an Indian arts museum, a decent restaurant, and a botanical garden across the street. The botanical garden had a nice sculpture exhibit. It all makes for a great afternoon visit.
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Robert C.

Yelp
Entry fee for seniors is only $12. We came here recently with a North American Reciprocal Museum card. Much of the museum pieces are from the collection of Alex and Susan Girard. Starting in the 1930s they traveled to Mexico, and returned with a carloads of arts and objects. You could not do that today, as such arts would be prohibited from being exported out of the country. By 1978 the Girard family had donated a gift of over 100,000 objects to the state of New Mexico. It was either that or hold up for auction the mother of all garage sales. Their gift quadrupled the size of the Museum of International Folk Art collection. The nearest I can relate to this is my collection of army soldiers and military minatures when I was a teenager. Saw some side shows on Mexican Art of paper and paste, and Japanese ghost models. BTW a North American Reciprocal Museum card rose in price from $50 in 2020 to $120 in 2024.
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Shannon M.

Yelp
This museum was AMAZING! If you are a fan of miniatures, like me, you will especially love it since you will see representations from all sorts of cultures, but there were also incredible examples of embroidery samplers, Mexican paper maché, and so much more! If you have issues with mobility I highly recommend this museum, because it's not too big, but it is absolutely packed with cool stuff to look at, so you don't have to sacrifice seeing part of the collection if you get tired. Also, remember to look UP! Lots of things hanging from the ceiling that you will miss if you are only looking at horizon level. There are two gift shops in the lobby that are worth checking out as well. Definitely worth a return trip! I loved it!!
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Sarah S.

Yelp
We came to the Museum of International Folk Art on Tuesday morning. We had our culture passes, so we were good to go! This museum's exhibits are very colorful and lively. There is so much to see, so be sure to take your time here. They feature beautiful artworks from around the world-we needed more time to see everything. Be sure to give yourself at least an hour here. Don't forget to visit their amazing gift shop!
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Amy D.

Yelp
An absolute delight to visit, especially with young kids! We found ourselves giddy with excitement as we explored the Girard collection (an absolutely massive person collection) of folk art/toys displayed in beautiful "just waiting to be played" form. The little scavenger hunts available for the hunts to find some of these pieces was fantastic and was a great way to focus during the visit. The rotating exhibit on parkas was also beautifully done, respectful and so thoughtful. There is also a kids play center which was well appreciated by our little ones. We were luckly enough to have free reciprocal NARM admission and were so glad to have had the chance to visit this museum!
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Devin K.

Yelp
I thought this was a pretty cool place. We went to it because we have a NARM membership which allows you to belong to one museum and use that membership to get in to other participating museums for free.
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Barbara P.

Yelp
I absolutely love folk art and this place was amazing. I would come back here again and again if I could. There were a couple rotating collections which were nice, but the heart of the museum -- in all its folk art glory -- all came from one very huge private collection donated in the late 20th century. It seems most of the items come from the 1950s--1980s, from all over the world. I love folk art, but I discovered I especially like art from Benin. The items from the donor's collection are arranged very haphazardly. The docent told us that when the museum first opened many people found it overwhelming (so did we). The donor didn't want any placards or explanations of "what or where or when" regarding the art pieces. The museum compromised by placing numbers on each display. There's a guidebook you can borrow which says where the items came from and a little about their significance. I would have been lost without the guidebook. I really like to know what I'm looking at! In addition to the truly wild and overwhelming (in the best possible way) main collection, there was a guest collection of art from Japan -- to me it didn't seem quite like folk art, but rather art that related to folk tales (quite different--but still interesting). There was a small display of prison art -- total folk art -- which was very interesting. There was also a display (I think this one is permanent?) about Mexican paper mache art. Very cool and I learned a lot from it. So many purposes for this type of art in Mexican culture! If you are at all interested in folk art, you must not miss this place! And the gift shop is great too. Lots of folk art you can buy.
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Barbara P.

Yelp
When I visit Santa Fe, I always enjoy visiting the Museum of International Folk Art on Museum Hill. They have a very nice selection of items in their gift shop located at the entrance of the museum, including interesting tote bags, scarves, jewelry, books, notecards, and much more. Just outside you can stand on their veranda and enjoy a wonderful 360 degree view of the Santa Fe area and nearby mountains. Be sure to visit Museum Hill. There are several small museums located here.
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Tawnya H.

Yelp
Really enjoyed this museum- they had some beautiful artwork from interesting cultures.
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Kate M.

Yelp
Really cool exhibits currently, gift shops are a must- bought some unique items I didn't find in any stores at the Plaza area. Sculptures around the external are AMAZING
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Bar R.

Yelp
Adorable and cute. Lots of beautiful art w/ videos on how items were made. Kids under 16 are free! Very cold, bring a sweater. The gift shop is too pricey, but I'm familiar with pricing for lots of the items because I lived on the border, so 500% up-mark is silly to me but may not be for others.
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Tom P.

Yelp
FYI : if you plan on eating at the cafe which is in another building a short walk from the exhibit.... Give yourself plenty of time. It took us 45 mins after we ordered to receive food, not counting the 10 mins for server to get to our table to take order. BUT THE MUSEAM is a must . Incredible , unbelievable collections and it's only 10 percent of the total collection. Truly mind blowing .

Mathieu G.

Yelp
We loved the place so much that after 2h we decided to come back for another 2h the next morning.
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Rose B.

Yelp
Attending presentation of Japanese Face Mask. Watching artist carve masks. Very interesting. Masks ar made for actors and for commissions.

Dixie D.

Yelp
Overwhelming but endlessly delightful. Such a surprise for out of town visitors like us. We loved this museum. Memorable and so well done. Miniatures, paper mache, and even a room with Ukraine art. We give this museum 5 stars. ( museum store good too). We learned so much about international art and were impressed with every display
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Jo S.

Yelp
We were very excited to check out the Museum of International Folk Art located on Museum Hill during our vacation in Santa Fe. It surely didn't disappoint! I'd say it's a mid-size museum, very rich in content, very diverse within its theme, a little gem! We were very interest in their current exhibit "Yōkai: Ghosts & Demons of Japan" on display till August 31t. It was very good, comprehensive and fun, it even has a little haunted house type corridor. Great for your little ones and not only. Otherwise, the exhibit is mostly for adults based on the content with legends of ghosts and demons. "Musica Buena: Hispanic Folk Music of New Mexico" is very interesting and you can discover more events, people, ceremonies of the area. On view till Dec. 31! A hit with everyone is "Multiple Vision - A Common Bond", a permanent collection of miniatures, toys from all over the world! The staff is nice, the gift shop is well stocked with diverse choices. Nice museum in Santa Fe. It should go on top of your list, must see while you are in the area!
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Iris S.

Yelp
We were SO pleasantly surprised with how much we loved this museum! The staff was very friendly and there is several exhibits, but the real star was the miniatures! We spent a very long time just checking out all the different ones. I wish they could have had the info about each one in front of it, but due to how many they had, they were just numbered and you could use a guide on your phone to look up what they were. Very nice museum!
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Daniel W.

Yelp
A highlight of Santa Fe! Spectacular collection of folk art from around the world-- beautifully presented in often whimsical dioramas. If you're a fan of mid-century designer Alexander Girard, you'll see where his inspiration came from. Even if you're not, you'll be inspired yourself! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
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Caroline H.

Yelp
The area outside was very well maintained even though it had just snowed and was very easy for me to navigate as a wheelchair user. My favorite exhibit was the room full of miniatures which was super fun and unique. There were two closed exhibits which was a disappointment. I wish only one exhibit would be closed for renovation at a time. But the price was still good for this experience. I also had trouble navigating the gift shop as a wheelchair user and had to have my sister push me through to avoid knocking stuff over.

Ann G.

Yelp
I love toys, like old ones... and this place is stuffed with them right now. I don't know if they are always on exhibit, but I could spend hours and hours in this place. Plus, there's a great place to eat right there across from the museum- perfect. Parking was easy too. Go, have fun, enjoy; D
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Todd G.

Yelp
Wasn't expecting the museum to be so large and professionally curated. The permanent parts of the exhibit are amazing. So glad that many of the larger pieces of art were able to be preserved and displayed. The rotating exhibits are also well done and interesting. The gift shop is cute and well stocked. The sculpture garden in front of the museum is interesting and colorful and great for photos.
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Frances A.

Yelp
Loved the variety of exhibits on display here and the reflections on how different exhibits had been curated in partnership with a diversity of artists. The current display of parkas by Alaska Native peoples is excellent. I got to the museum 1 1/2 hours before closing and really wish I had allocated more time for my visit! Also, if you're visiting from out of town, keep in mind that you can catch the Santa Fe Trails museum shuttle to the Museum of International Folk Art. You just have to go to one of the stops and call for pickup.
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Jen K.

Yelp
Great museum with a lot of great art, that kept us busy for hours. The museum is large and laid out in a way that keeps you interested with a few spots to sit down if you or someone needs a break. It's multilevel and just seems to keep going. We found some of our favorites when we went downstairs. Lots of great pieces that started a lot of fun conversations. If you are in Santa Fe on vacation it's a great stop!
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Cynthia C.

Yelp
I enjoyed this museum, situated in a peaceful and pretty landscape. There is a serene vibe in the museum itself that I found unexpectedly relieving. The art is of diverse mediums from various lands and interesting. The mask history exhibit seemed currently appropriate if not a bit cheeky. The staff were friendly. Worth the visit!
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Melanie F.

Yelp
This was a nice change of pace from what I normally visit. There were so many dolls from all over the world that told a story. It was very intriguing. Definitely recommend this museum.

Michael C.

Yelp
Amazing collection of global folk art! Spent almost 2 hours though it seemed like much less. Easy to find. The presentation and quality is as good as any major folk art museum I've been to in major cities like NYC and LA.
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Howard B.

Yelp
Most museums you want to keep coming back for more, not this one. We enjoyed the Japanese exhibit made the trip worth it. The scary section was a fun part. This is the main reason for my rating or it would have been a "just ok" 3 star Truly hated the paper Book guides, everyone touches them, not a good idea during a pandemic, such a pain to look up numbers when it could have easily been mounted on the display case. The work it took to make the individual people was amazing
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Laura B.

Yelp
What a bright and colorful experience. It is like It's a Small, Small World in Disneyland on steroids. There are so many small and larger international exhibits all so pleasing encouraging you to look at the fine details. They even have a scavenger hunt for the kids to encourage them to be observant.There currently is a scary Japanese exhibit with a neon walk through, that reminds you of Knott's Scary Farm. One even blows compressed air when you least except it. They have a fabulous book store and another store with a great variety of quality items where you want to go on a buying spree.
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Doreen L.

Yelp
What is Folk Art? Art that is native to the artist, handmade and unique. I guess even curators cannot truly agree what folk art was. There is a section of the museum (the Neutrogena Wing) devoted to explaining and debating the meaning of Folk Art. Museum of International Folk Art is a mishmash of a museum. The permanent collection is just an overwhelming display of 10,000 items (out of 130,000). This was very beautiful/confusing/ frightening. The confusing part was that none of these items had a display. You needed to take a tiny laminated booklet and read the description of the art pieces that you wanted to know more about. There were interesting and beautiful rotating exhibits. Quilts of Southwest China were these beautiful labor-intensive quilts that took one year to make. They had symbols and stories within them, representing life, birth, fertility, blessings and tribal symbols. I loved listening to the videos of the interviewer talking to these grandmas who discuss their craft. And the fact that their kids don't want to make quilts. No Idle Hands: The Myths & Meanings of Tramp Art. I learned that tramp art was mostly made by working men. Most of the Tramp art was not made by Tramps. My favorite piece was a famous carver who carved peach pits and decorated them with rhinestones. It looked like amazing collection of beads or pendants. Neutrogena Wing. This was an interactive art exhibit where you can play a Japanese metallophone (it's like a xylophone that makes a Tibetan meditation bowls sound) and make origami cranes. The best parts: Paver Stone Maze. This is outside the museum. It is not a maze that you can get lost in but has perfect ability for the person in the middle to hear an echo of your own voice. Wow! This was fun to watch and to try. I loved seeing our friends and K's facial expressions. The Coyote in the Neutrogena wing with the confused hare. It reminds me of a childhood cartoon. Negotiate, Navigate, Innovate: Strategies Folk Artists Use in Today's Global Marketplace: The Silk Button Cooperative. This Coop was founded by Amina Yabis. Yabis realized women made these silk buttons but didn't profit off of them. The coop helps to educate women about business to promote their wares. The silk buttons and dresses were gorgeous! Two brightly colored spiritual paintings in this exhibit. "Our tradition, your greed, our destruction" was very poignant and powerful. And another piece of sun, gods, hunters, animals and earth. It was beautiful. From the permanent collection: Japanese dolls and toys. These dolls were to protect worshippers at shrines. They look like bobble head dolls with narrow bodies. Cat with Prawn painting- Bengali cat with a giant prawn in its mouth. Spirit House- spirits are worshipped, prayed for. The spirits ward off evil and bring good luck. This is a beautiful spiritual display of peace, prosperity, spirituality and good vs evil. A tiny general store where a little girl is buying a toy in toy store. This was intricate and well detailed. The ceiling is painted. There is even a window in the back of the miniature store and a fake alley behind that window. This was amazing! I liked many many parts of the museum but wish some of the art was more organized. I also wish for more background on some of the pieces. The price of admission was high for me ($13 per person). I think I prefer fine artwork to folk art.
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James R.

Yelp
A wonderfully curated range of folk art from around the work. Sharing the perspective, I believe, that while expressions may differ, there are common themes that folk artists and the cultures they represent, draw from.
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Linda K.

Yelp
I'm a lover of folk art and miniatures which isn't a big thing in NYC for some reason. So I was really looking forward to visiting the Museum of Intl Folk Art. Well my expectations were met and then some! In fact MIFA is one of the most creative, whimsical magical places I've ever visited. Up on Museum Hill and reachable by a free shuttle bus, it's spacious, modern and well curated. We were lucky enough to see the Girard exhibit which showcased the designer's amazing collection of miniatures. You just have to see the detail and breadth of this exhibition, unbelievable. Bought a few nice souvenirs from the gift shop afterward which carries unique things from all over the world, much of it reasonably priced. Expect to pay $14 pp for nonresidents, well worth it for our 2+ hour visit. Fabulous.
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Jane A.

Yelp
Wow. The Girard wing, which houses the permanent collection arranged in all kinds of vignettes and like-objects, is dazzling in its range. And yes, it's kind of overwhelming (as other people's obsessions tend to be, and Alexander Girard was definitely obsessed with collecting all these examples of folk art, toys, etc. One of the cleverest things is how objects are placed together to compare, contrast or to create vignettes, whether of masks, toy trains, bamboo bird-cage replicas of European cathedrals, watercraft on a river, mermaids-- you name it. Some vignettes purposely arrange objects by size to create a sense of greater depth (such as with smaller figures in the background of a crowd scene). Go for a docent tour. The lady we had (Virginia?) was extremely knowledgeable and engaging. The museum is set at one end of a large, attractive plaza, with little sculpture gardens tucked around the perimeter. And there's a nice cafe on the plaza, too.
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Ann L.

Yelp
We couldn't go to Bandelier NM due to Government Shutdown, so my backup was this Folk Art Museum. It's small. We saw it all in about 1hr. Lots of little craft things in glass. Very cute. There was a Peru art exhibit that I liked. Worth it to spend some time at.
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John K.

Yelp
I love museums and this place caught my eye, so I came at about 2:30pm on a Wednesday. After parking in the parking lot, I walked up some stairs and about 100 feet to the entrance. The receptionist was friendly and explained the cultural pass, which I purchased after I inquired about it. This would give me access to four other museums in the Santa Fe area for about half the price if I went to all, and more museums around New Mexico. The museum only had one floor, but multiple rooms. It had a lot of modern folk art and some that were older. The art was pretty good and showed that it took lots of work to create. I was impressed with what I saw. It's good to see that folk art is still being made around the world and evolving.
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Georgie M.

Yelp
This Museum has an absolute incredible collection of folk art AND small toys and figurines! MoIFA is in some ways is just too large to take in over one day. But for us, the toys and small figurines housed in Girard Wing was the most interesting. If you have children, you need to take them here! This is one of those Museums where they will pester you to take them back. The guide books tells about Alexander and Susan Girard lifetime of collecting these figurines going back to their honeymoon trip to Mexico in 1939. In fact, their are over 100,000 objects in the The Girard collection. Children will want to get behind the plexiglas and play with them. Trust me, I wanted to as well. (See photos) Enjoy!
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Tiffany B.

Yelp
If I were an artist, I think I'd come here for an espresso like shot of inspiration or to just shake myself up a bit. The Girard gallery was pretty extraordinary. And a little overwhelming, to be honest. There is SO much to see here. Tons of color, tons of different styles, and numerous countries represented. Also, the gift shop here is outstanding. So many fun pieces of one of a kind jewelry pieces, fun socks, and many colorful scarves, jackets and things to keep you warm. I also loved the menagerie of animals made of seed beads. Despite the crazy number of jewelry stores in this town, the small collection contained here was one of my favorites--especially because a lot of the other downtown jewelry stores have such similar fare on offer. Nice little campus. Definitely worth a stop.
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Heather T.

Yelp
This was our last stop out of Santa Fe. The museum is gorgeous and situated on museum hill. The current exhibit was a pottery exhibit from the South. It was well done but nothing that really peaked our interest. What was more fascinating was the giant room of folk art. It's a lot to take in and fortunately a guard showed us where the "legends" were to know what we were looking at. This is the largest collection of folk art in one space and it is impressive. The gift shop was also very well done and totally up my alley.
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Rachel P.

Yelp
I love the MoIFA. It has GREAT exhibits, and I love the new RED exhibit especially. The other great thing I will say about this museum is they have the BEST hands-on demos and lectures at their opening celebrations. My only real complaint is this: A major design flaw. Or rather, two. As with many museums in this state, it's as if no-one thought about where to put lighting so that you don't block the light you need to read the text at each item in the exhibit by standing on front of the thing you are supposed to be reading. The other issue they share with everyone else is dead-ends in the exhibits, where you can get trapped by onlookers onto a different item in the collection. Thankfully, and not surprisingly, this rarely, if ever, happens in the Girard wing, which is the main reason to go, in my book. Girard knew what he was doing in design and would never have let that happen in his smorgasboard of folk art goodies. Also, I'm a dork but I love that they have the mounted sherriffs directing traffic. ; )
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Maria E.

Yelp
AWESOME - DO NOT MISS! Almost skipped this but then 2 different drivers recommended it. I didn't have high expectations but this was a fantastic museum. There was a miniature circus exhibit - right up my alley. Some great info about the circus as well. A really great exhibit on flamenco. An exhibit on various Asian amulets, rituals and prayer traditions. A giant collection of folk art dolls (by giant, I mean dioramas galore). The artifacts and information were presented really well. I also absolutely loved the interactive aspects here. The flamenco exhibit had a little section where you could try on the traditional outfits in front of a mirror. HOW FUN! The Asian exhibit had folding paper so you could make flowers to add to prayer bowls as well as little papers you could fill out with wishes (in line with the Eastern traditions). There was a photo booth to take a picture of your tattoo and write what it means to you (in the section about the use of tattoos as amulets in Asian cultures). There was also a really interesting interactive section about ethics in the global art market. There were questions posted and post-it notes provided where people could continue a dialogue about how they feel in regard to art fakes and other important issues. It's not a large museum - I spent a little over an hour here and I didn't read everything and didn't view the Girard collection (doll dioramas) very carefully. The gift shop was excellent - lots of authentic pieces from various countries. Some really cute stuff. Highly recommended!

Dimin X.

Yelp
It is really amazing! Thousands of miniatures from all over the world with numbered descriptions. Super fun and impressed!

Lem B.

Yelp
Such an amazing place to visit. Though you can walk through the museum in one day, it is best experienced via repeated visits so you take everything in. The Girard Collection room is so intricate and if you like miniature things, this will definitely suit your fancy. The museum shops are nice. When I was there, I don't remember a place to eat, so just something to think about. Overall, great museum to get a membership to.
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Pamina B.

Yelp
An amazing experience... like the whole world's art pulled together in one place. Artful displays of folk art pieces that are so impressive, intricate and inspiring! As an artist myself, this was the highlight of my trip to Santa Fe... a must-see exhibition of the common man's creativity and tenacity! Enjoy!
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Valencia D.

Yelp
The Museum of International Folk Art located in the beautiful setting of Museum Hill in Santa Fe is truly a gift to the world. Even if you are not a 'culture vulture' still consider taking an hour of your time to visit this fascinating collection of folk art. There is a collection of folk art collected by one man, Alexander Girard and his wife displayed beautifully in the Girard Wing called "Multiple Visions: A Common Bond." These pieces of art are astonishingly cute. Yes, cute. Everything is hand made with intricate detail and collected from all over the world. The details in the dolls, the miniatures and tapestries - just to name a few - are nothing that even the finest German machinery could reproduce. The collection is in perfect shape. Preserved over the years, probably painstakingly packed and traveled from all over the world with "surgeon-hands" care. There are dolls seated around tables having tea parties reminiscent of some time long before Alice in Wonderland. There are tapestries with sayings like, " Libertad de los Negros" probably sewn many years before the 1700-1800 American slave trade. There are statues made out of minerals and clay and paint that probably cannot be found nor reproduced today. The details in the faces, and the hands in the dolls from Bolivia, Poland and Mexico just to name a very small few, are the kind of details you could imagine the delicate but strong hands of a village puppeteer, who spent hours and years of his or her life creating masterpieces for his children and family to play with. Now preserved behind glass and set on stages for the world to enjoy. Take your mother, take your children and your lovers to see this magnificent collection of fine folk art. If anything, if you do not appreciate the joy these pieces of art will bring you, they will astonish your appreciation for engineering and attention to detail. The BEST part for my toddler was the Children's Play Area. Wow! This area for play is on par with anything the Smithsonian has put together for children to explore and play. There are dolls to climb trees, and hidden pieces of art disguised as toys. The puppet theater stage is a blast for kids to put on shows, or in my case, for my mom to put on a show for her granddaughter. Enjoy!

Julie Z.

Yelp
Wow every guide book and experienced person told us not to miss this museum. It is one of the best of its kind with excellent exhibition design on a vast array of international cultures. The Girard collection is mind blowing. The other exhibits were informative about the local Hispanic culture in a deep of detail I've only seen in much larger cities the international traveling exhibitions were surprising and amazing. Don't miss a visit to this museum!!!!!
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Hailey J.

Yelp
I was really bummed out by my experience here. Admission is pricey, even for locals, and there were a lot of closed galleries. The museum isn't laid out with a lot of context and it felt like it catered to white, bourgeois viewers. The displays and art are beautiful, the galleries are clean and well laid out, there is a distinct sense of aesthetic-- but those things do not serve to erase how racist the museum comes across. There was a lot of Lakota beadwork and funerary items on display, coupled with peyote ceremony fans and a war bonnet, baby shoes, things that belong to the tribes, not the museum. The White Savior narrative was strong here.
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Linda C.

Yelp
Wow!! Even my (drug along under duress) husband was impressed with the Girard collections ["Did they have all of this in their house??!!"] Beautiful space, well-displayed, interesting curated pieces. You can spend an hour or a day, but go.