American Folk Art Museum

Pretty small, but still worthwhile. The quilts on display are wonderfully intricate. Definitely worth a visit. They have lockers out front for your jackets and bags. Tjey also have really nice restrooms. Nice gift shop, too.

A lovely museum with rotating exhibits. Entry is free but donate if you can! I loved the quilt exhibition. It was so thoughtful and even as an experienced quilter I learned so much about the history, natural dyes, techniques, and personal stories. So well done!

I really enjoyed my visit to the American Folk Art Museum. It’s a smaller museum, but the exhibits are thoughtfully curated and filled with unique pieces that tell powerful stories of American creativity and culture. The atmosphere is calm, inviting, and easy to explore without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. I appreciated that admission is free, and we were happy to donate on our way out because the experience was truly worth supporting. A lovely stop if you’re in the Lincoln Center area and want something meaningful and inspiring.

The American Folk Art Museum is a hidden gem with free admission and a rich sense of history and culture. The space is clean and welcoming, with a relaxed, easy-going atmosphere that invites you to take your time. Seeing the quilts up close—the intricate designs, craftsmanship, and stories behind them—felt like stepping back in time. The level of detail and versatility showcased in early folk art is truly impressive and makes the experience both educational and inspiring. With so many must-see attractions in New York, this museum is well worth adding to your list. It’s a memorable stop that offers depth, beauty, and perspective in a calm and enriching setting.

a very small but charming museum with great exhibitions. I love how often they have textile-related exhibitions and it's also wonderful how it's totally free to all (yes, even non-NYC residents)! one can opt to donate upon entry but there is no pressure or judgment to do so. it's great to have a no-cost place to wander and/or sit but especially in this area where people are milling about to pass time while waiting for their costly performances in lincoln square. third spaces are so important and the accessibility of this museum makes it a perfect one!

Beautiful museum with nice exhibitions. Free entrance. Located a stone throw away from Central Park

Free museum with donations accepted (not pushed) I’ve been here multiple times and last time I got to see the exhibit Playing with Design, featuring over 100 handmade game boards. It was fun to see classic games as checkers and chess and impressive hand-painted pieces from late 19th century. I really recommend checking this out if you’re in the Lincoln Center area.

Wonderful small free museum with an intimate feel and good vibes. I've visited here several times and every exhibit they've had has been excellent. Gift shop has a cool selection and staff is always friendly and helpful. There are free lockers to store your bag/backpack/etc, too.

A small space with well curated and exhibited collections that rotate every every months. The museum does not charge admission and there is no pressure to make a contribution. For those for those who have the ability to contribute, you get the feeling it could make a difference in keeping the museum open. The three exhibits we saw (Shaker Art, Game Boards Art and culture, and Home to Roost) provided a window into a time before TV's, computers, cell phones, social media, and 'screens'. As some (many? most?) museums are considering moving toward an interactive/digital future, I really hope museums such as the American Folk Art Museum can survive in their present form.

I've been wanting to visit this museum for years. It's too small to have any permanent collections but, the exhibition we visited was informative. The small museum shop had many different types of items for sale. From tapestries, to jewelry, soaps and books. The staff was friendly and helpful. I look forward to visit again.

When I first moved the UWS in late 2011, I quickly found the American Folk Art Museum, and as a lover of museums generally and folk art specifically, I was stoked to have a venue like this only six blocks from my apartment. It was one of those early discoveries that make brand-new New Yorkers realize they've put down roots in impossibly rich and fertile cultural soil. Little did I know that only a few months earlier, the museum had been teetering on the brink of collapse. But thanks to a clarion call from NYT art critic Roberta Smith, and a subsequent infusion of philanthropic funds, this special little institution was saved. It's hard to overstate the importance of the rescue, because even in a city teeming with magnificent museums, there would be a dreadful void without the AFAM. I'm a member at most of the city's major museums, and I can attest that none of them (including the Met, which is encyclopedic) offer anything in the folk art genre that holds a candle to the AFAM's collection and exhibitions. Stop by on any given day and you'll likely find one room with rotating selections from the permanent collection, which boasts paintings, textiles, furniture and more. And then, in a few other large rooms that constitute the rest of the museum, you'll find a temporary exhibition virtually guaranteed to impress you and very likely to wow you. On my most recent visit, the main exhibition was "Avant-Garde Psychiatry and the Birth of Art Brut," a fascinating look at the works and legacy of European psychiatric patients. In addition to being interesting and out of the ordinary, this exhibition reflected a core part of the AFAM's mission, which spotlights overlooked and underappreciated artists and artistic styles. The museum also does a wonderful job of representing local art; one of my all-time favorite shows was about masonic and fraternal societies that once were abundant around town and left a lasting mark in the form of mystical, occult ornamentation on lodges that have since been converted to residential buildings. I should add that the museum is free (although donations are encouraged, and memberships are inexpensive), and that it has a really great gift shop full of distinctive merch. So, if you've never been, definitely stop by -- this is a real treasure, and there's no assurance it'll always be around.

A lovely small free/donate what you wish museum. We came and saw exhibits on Shaker art, games boards, and Home to Roost and spent about 30-45 minutes seeing the collection.

Museum near Lincoln center, NYC, it is free and the gift shop had adorable souvenirs for owl and cat lovers. Museum itself was very small and some interesting embroidery works.

It's a small museum near Lincoln Center. There is no fee. They usually have a good exhibit that you can look through. What I love is that you can waltz in and out and always come back. There is always something to see. (We saw a great Hirschfeld exhibit) - Cute gift shop with handmade items. Check the hours because they differ on the day.

The museum is free! There is a lot to see. Beautiful artwork and sculptures, paintings, prints etc. Loving it!

Nice museum. Quick and easy. Lots of fun quilts that I'd love to cuddle up with. It took us all of 15 minutes to go through. Love that it's free.

Super cool free museum! We went during an interesting exhibit about quilts. It's a small little museum which is actually pretty nice because you get to view everything in about 20 mins and get in and out. Would recommend!

I really enjoyed this modest, one floor museum right across from Lincoln Center. I wish I could have taken more photos to illustrate this review, but most of the exhibits were photography exhibits, so not easily translated into photos yet again. Lots of recovered photos. Many risqué photos of women from the 50s (some are very explicit, so be prepared). I also really enjoyed the photos taken by Mark Hogancamp, who was chronicled in the Steve Carell film "Welcome to Marwen," though Hogancamp called his imaginary land "Marwencol." So much of this museum was edgy, raw art, by real people, with a lot of feeling behind each piece. This museum tries to focus on self-taught artists. Admission is free. Exhibits rotate frequently and I would definitely visit again!

Was watching the clashes between protestors and police in New York City, when I decided to do a review on a very different era of that city. We tried to visit this museum in October of 2018, but they were closed for renovations. Came again in May, 2019 and they were open. This museum had an entire wing devoted to artists painting scenes of New York city from the late 18th century through the beginning of the 20th century. Painted wood carving of people in the clothes of the time. The Knickerbocker stage line Omnibus, used before electric trams, which were replaced by the subway for travel between Brooklyn and Manhattan. Another painting depicts oystering at Prince's Bay on Staten Island, where fishermen racked in the oysters from the mud flats. Oystering died out with the water pollution from the industrial revolution. Lavish metal weather vane, along with sculptures of horses, paintings of steamships, clipper ships, horse drawn carriages, landscape paintings of ships in the harbor. Sculpture of an early 20th century baseball player in the batter's box. Museum depicts an idyllic setting of New York City in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Very close to TKTS Columbus Circle where you could buy discount same day evening tickets or next day matinee tickets to Broadway Shows. On the way to Lincoln Center. And it's free admission for cheapskates like me. Although if you can afford the Broadway Shows, you can afford to make a $10 per person suggested contribution. Museums, like Broadway theaters, are in dire financial condition due to the pandemic.

I visited this museum on the same day that I visited MoMA (Modern Museum of Art). It is a small one floor museum that is free to visit. As its name suggests, it displays art from self taught artists rather than classically trained ones. The collection is mainly a mix of paintings, sculptures, ceramics and furniture from the last 200 years. It pales in comparison to MoMA of course, but for a small free museum, it was worth a quick walk through.

Delightful free little museum over by the Lincoln center. One floor only. Rotating exhibits. The current one is all about weathervanes which was interesting to read about and see. Fabulous little gift store. Definitely worth stopping in if you were in the area but maybe not worth hiking to the upper West side just for that.

Definitely needs a larger space so that they can have a section for a permanent exhibit or two. It's nice that it's free and they definitely try hard but it could be better considering the scope and breadth of American folk art.

I wouldn't recommend you travel for this museum, but if you're in the area, it's a good, free way to spend 30-45 minutes. They always have one exhibit, and they rotate them out every few months or so. Right now, they've got one on Orra White Hitchcock, whose art explored love, science, and religion. There's everything from drawings of paintings to dinosaurs to layers of the earth, along with biographical information and some on her husband's work as well. Find their list of upcoming exhibitions on their site. There are three small rooms, two bathrooms on the right side, and a ton of security guards watching everything, though they couldn't be friendlier. It's extremely quiet, so if your kids are going to be loud, you'll feel out of place here. However, if they're interested in the artwork, it'd be a cute outing if you're in the area. Also, their gift shop is one of the best museum gift shops I've ever seen! Everything is so colorful, fun, and unique. Find everything from books to jewelry to plants to rugs to decorations. If you're into artsy stuff or need a gift, come into this gift shop, even if you're not going into the museum!

Review #1700 goes to a cultural institution! I think I really like folk art but hadn't thought much about it. I came in with a friend because the museum is free everyday. After we arrived she asked me what folk art really was and I wasn't sure I could tell her. I guessed, I said to me it meant it was "do it yourself", that the artists aren't classically trained or maybe even trained at all, and that their art is very much tied to their culture or geographical place, either in subject matter or materials used. Turns out that's pretty spot on. And it was while I was talking about it, and while I was seeing the house paint and metal and coloring books and cardboard and garbage and spit used to make the pieces the art felt so much more personal. Sometimes I feel disconnected from art. There's an elitism around it that can be alienating. Folk art tears that down, sometimes we wondered what was so special about what we were looking at. Sometimes it seemed gross or troubling. But more often than not I felt like I was looking at something made with deep earnestness. The artists didn't seem to care about eliciting a reaction from me, they were saying what they had to say and whether I was there to see it or not didn't seem to matter to them, and that made the art better. Christine Sefolosha created my favorite pieces. The description of her work says, "viewers are confronted with their own shadows in a work that is equally alluring and disturbing". What more does a gal want?! ;) The museum is small, if you're not looking at every single thing you'll be out in an hour, maybe less. My friend and I lingered and looked at everything in detail and we were there for maybe 2.5. Because this exhibit focused on artists ignored by the community, and took a deeper look into the mediums they used, their methods, and their lives, I felt like there was a lot to think about and discuss. In the middle of the upper floor are 6 touch screens with one sided headphones (yep) that will allow you to learn more about the pieces. The exhibits change often and when they do they close for a few days to get everything set up, so give a call or check the website before you drop in. And make sure you check out the gift shop, lots of quirky cool items there.

A small but fun Museum in Lincoln Center. The have a small number of exhibits but they are very well curated. Worth a stop.

the quilts were absolutely amazing. there were other select pieces that stood out to me as well. unique gift shop, good vibes. only downside was that it was really small but also it was free so i can't complain too much

Can't beat free. The AFAM isn't the biggest museum, but there's a ton to look at, and it's a great way to kill 20 minutes or so. When I went, the featured exhibit was the Memory Palaces collection by Audrey B. Heckler. A seemingly random mishmash of paintings and some sculptures. But I'm no artist. There was more interesting stuff on the outside of the main gallery. They also have a gift shop. And a bathroom.

This tiny museum really packs a punch. I come once a year or so because it's always evolving and it is super convenient for me, so I have no excuse. Staff is always friendly and there's a big bottle of hand sanitizer in front which is cool. Wonderful place to spend an hour if you're in the area of Lincoln Square

Free-to-the-public exhibitions which honor cultural artists that are lesser known. (This review is long overdue.) When I visited here, they featured a Ghanan artist who did the most elaborate coffins you have ever seen!! The exhibition even featured an interview of him and how he was passing his trade/art down to his only child. It's a smaller museum, so take your time and go slow. Cubbies with keys are available to store your belongings while you browse. I ended up at this museum's gift shop like 3 times just to buy their moisturizing avocado soaps in bulk. They also had this pricy handmade Mesoamerican rug that I didn't get because I couldn't justify buying it. Overall great experience.

What a cool museum. It's located in a busy part of the city and has free admission. I was impressed. I never actually heard of this place before and noticed it when I walked by. Honestly, it was raining and I ended up here. I was pleasantly surprised - they had a small gift store and a variety of paintings on display. It was a quaint museum that I would definitely go back to. It was a nice, quiet place in such a hectic part of the city. I can't believe I hadn't been here before, since it's right across from Lincoln Center, and in such a high traffic area. I would definitely come back here.

I love folk art. I love this museum. One of my favorites. I have several friends that make their living as artists. Folk art is America to me. I've been to this museum on so many occasions I can't count them all. The exhibit that stands out in my mind is a display of the AIDS quilt. Quilting is truly an art! If you get the opportunity to go to the museum I highly recommend. I have Christmas ornaments and other handmade items I've purchased. Like any other store they reduce the price seasonally. When you purchase an item at the Folk Art Museum you get a one of a kind piece. If I had not moved I'd visit more often. It was a short walk from my apartment when I lived on the West Side. You have stores, restaurants and Central Park nearby. Go and spend the day!

Weathervanes is their current exhibit on their only floor. It was interesting to see how much things were at that time. Love their store. It seems that some stuff was handmade. Once again took pay as you wish option. They take donations at door. Unisex bathrooms.

What a sweet little museum! Its not very big, but my friend and I spent 2 hours in here, perusing through each piece. No drinks, or big bags allowed in the museum, but they have free lockers and coat hangers. We were told that the museum would spend the next few days changing over the works, so I'm excited to come back and check it out. This museum is free to the public, though there is a donation box at the entry.

My friend suggested this place to me during a conversation in which we talked about artist blocks, namely the expectations that artists put on themselves when trying to create a work of art. (Seriously, why do we do this? It feels so paralyzing sometimes.) And what better place to get back that inspiration than a (free!) museum that celebrates folk artists--people who often had no formal training but who still managed to create pieces that resonated with others and that sometimes spoke about larger societal issues? This museum is small, I'll grant you that. However, they use what little space they have well. There are revolving exhibits; my friend and I were there to see John Dunkley's "Neither Day nor Night" and Paa Joe's "Gates of No Return." I agree with previous reviewers that I wouldn't make this place the main focus of a day trip. It's a bit too small for that. However, if you pair it with lunch or dinner at nearby eateries, it makes for a nice, relaxing trip. If you're an artist or art appreciator, I'm sure you will find a few things within the exhibits to make it worthwhile. =) What really enchanted me were the cabinets near the entrance, where you could temporarily store your belongings or coat. The images of art on each cabinet correspond to an image attached to a key so that when you return, there is no confusion as to where you stored your stuff. I loved this small touch; if only they printed the name of the artist and piece on the back of each card!

The American Folk Art Museum is another one of those places that merit a return visit each time I'm in Manhattan. The museum is small but I'm often lost in my head once inside. The exhibits here are so well curated and the descriptors of what you're seeing so fascinating that you can easily lose yourself in here for about 1 hour. American folk art, the category, covers a lot of ground. On one visit it was outsider art, or art created by those who aren't schooled in the art of art. The show featured three different artists coming from totally different perspectives and it was rich with thought-provoking works. On a recent visit, the entire space was given over to how artists created art to remember the dead, before there were cameras to help recall images of the recently departed. Fascinating stuff that I'd never before thought about. Everyone loves a bargain and the American Folk Art Museum qualifies. There's a suggested $10 donation but any amount you give is just dropped into a plexiglass box. If you walk inside without giving a cent nobody bats an eye. This museum is well though out and well cared for. Just past the donation box are a series of free lockers in which to unload your hands and backs. And as you exit, or enter, there's one of the best museum gift shops in all of NYC. This whole place, small as it is, merits your time and attention. If you enjoy art make some time to visit.

This is probably one of the smallest museums in the city, yet they have a cute little gift shop that is found on your left hand side as soon as you walk in and the best part is it's free to visit. The artwork varies seasonally which displays really unique and interesting folk art from around the country. if you haven't had a chance to visit, the next time you're in the Lincoln Center area, give it a go. They're open weekends and weekdays except Mondays, like most museums.

20th Century porn seemed liked an odd topic for a folk art museum. Great if you're into porn. Super gift shop with reasonable prices.

Great little museum. The gift shop is very fun and has a lot of little tchotchkes to choose from, and at reasonable prices. The museum is a suggested donation of $5. You won't spend all day here like you could at the Met or the MoMA, but it's absolutely worth checking out and a good way to spend 45 minutes or so. We came here and saw the Ralph Fasanella/Willem van Geck exhibit that was on display. We would return if in the area.

Good small art museum with some interesting exhibits. Admission is donation-based and they recommend $5.00, though after seeing how small the place is, I wouldn't have given more than $1-2. Ultimately, it's really 3 or 4 rooms of art and other artifacts, plus their gift shop. There are lockers to store your belongings (so you don't run into or damage the art).

Perhaps it is because of the United States' relative young age but it's not often that people get to see or learn about American art. Therefore, it is wonderful to visit this small museum that is dedicated to American folk art. From scenic paintings of early New England to racist statues of Native Americans used as marketing ploys in front of stores, the museum is filled with pieces that explore the good and bad of American history. And since it is a museum with only about four rooms to walk through, it feels as though you can thoroughly enjoy each piece. You have enough time to read each placard and finish looking through everything on exhibit. It's not as overwhelming as larger museums and thus, it is enjoyable in a different way. It is also free admission. However, I'm sure you'll like it and end up giving a small donation.

Not what I expected but, it is a great little museum that is fairly small but had a couple of good exhibits. iF YOU ARE IN THE AREA I would stop by. Its free and a pleasant way to spend an hour.

The best of museum stores on the UWS! Love their wide selection. Bought mylar chandelier; Sr. Fauci socks, beautiful suede women's gloves and ornaments.

Beautifully curated fascinating exhibit of art produced by recluses, obsessives, and schizophrenics. "Vestiges & Verse." The curators used the small space very skillfully- even using corridors not normally used to display art down to a lower level. To enjoy this exhibit, please take one of the paper guides. There you will find the interesting stories of each artist that you can read as you approach their art. The exhibit won't make sense without the booklet. The gift shop is lovely with really unique items

Meh, it's kind of a small museum, but the price is right if you go during a free period. I came here for the quilt exhibition. Kinda neat to see. It's right across from the opera in case you get bored and want to see some more stuff and pretend to be cultured..

Great museum and I really like it. Free admission and a very nice and cute gift shop at the entrance/exit. If I want to go through everything in detail and really enjoy the moment and take in all the art and emotions I usually take hours or half a day.

Came here for an incredible exhibition of historic/vintage quilts made by soldiers. The museum is small and really made me want to see more of th beautiful pieces! The gift shop is pretty awesome, and I was able to get a last minute birthday gift that the recipient loved.

Great little museum with interesting exhibits. Yes it's a small space, which has its pros and cons -- meaning, you don't need to budget hours to visit here, or worry about waiting in line or fighting mobs of people. Another big plus: it's got the best museum shop in town for the intersection of interestingness and value. Lots of nifty items from jewelry to household ware and other odds and ends, and the prices are fantastic. For example, almost all of their jewelry is less than $100, while by contrast the Museum of Art and Design (also a neat little museum) has great jewelry for sale, it's the opposite situation -- hard to find anything less than $100, and much of it is $250-500+.

Amazing place. And it is free. I will recommend anyone coming around Lincoln Center to check this place out. And lose nothing, but seeing an excellent little museum.

Oh hey, AMFAM I quite like your cozy atmosphere, dim lighting and lack of overcrowding. :) Your second floor of abstract work and colorful hues dazzled me and left a warm sentiment in my heart. Your art can appeal to any age and the model of the Titanic left me quite ineffable. I quite liked listening to the music playing downstairs, it wasn't overwhelming and made for good background music whilst strolling (or should you choose to listen some lyrics really do grab you by the ear). Thanks for exhibiting Henry Darger and Thomas Chambers and thanks for having a spectrum of art that one wouldn't consider folk at all (whether it ranges from 19th century household items or a plethora of colors colored outside the lines). You'll be seeing me around more often (preferably Friday's after 5:30) Looking Forward to it, -Nicole

First off, a few basic details. The American Folk Art Museum is small: there are only three exhibit rooms. At any given time, most of the space is taken up by the current exhibition or exhibitions: there is only a handful of permanent pieces on display. Even if you take things at a very slow pace and take time to enjoy the shop (which is quite large for a museum of this size), you probably won't end up spending more than about 90 minutes here. For an average-length visit, count on spending about 45 minutes. Admission is by suggested donation; so if you're in the area and have only a little bit of time, you can stop in without feeling like you have spent too much money. The exhibitions are generally excellent. Folk art is an umbrella term for a wide range of different art styles, and the museum puts on a variety of different exhibitions every year. Some shows focus on individual artists, while others focus on a particular type of art (e.g. tinsel painting) or on a theme (e.g. fashion inspired by folk art). Some focus primarily on self-taught artists, while others mix the work of self-taught artists with that of formally-trained artists inspired by folk artists. The one downside is that, sometimes, the curators' commentary is thoroughly awful. There are times when the commentary feels unusually pretentious in a way that folk art itself rarely is. I am also thinking of one exhibit where the curator included a number of passive-aggressive jabs at the artists and artwork being displayed. The enjoyment of an exhibition is diminished if one gets the feeling that the curator has a certain contempt for or condescending attitude toward the work on display. The gift shop is, as mentioned above, large for a museum of this size. Even if you don't have time for or don't care for the exhibition(s) at any given time, the shop is worth a look: they have a lot of books, cards, toys, and other tchotchkes, all of it very tasteful and well-made.

I think this is one of NY's best kept secret (although it's not really a secret) - Free music Fridays from 5:30 to 7:30. They usually have good bands/musicians perform. I saw The Loom play, and they were awesome. It's great for listening to new music and unwinding from the work week. Plus you can stroll around the museum, which is a good size. It's not overwhelming like the MoMA.

This is a museum that has a number of interesting things in its collection that I expect is changed frequently so that makes it a good place to drop by in the neighborhood. The write-ups on the placards are really great as some museums just name the piece and let you look at it. Having some history or description of the work is awesome. There's only about three rooms in the gallery so you can expect to spend 30min-1hr here.

I went here for the Henry Darger opening. This was my first encounter of the reclusive artist, his work is truly amazing. Very aw inspiring! Actually, after seeing his work I rented the PBS documentary on him from Netflix, it just made his art even more exquisite. The building itself is very schizophrenics, which worked for this exhibition but may not apply to all folk art shows. The architect used fiberglass, stone, stained wood, and brick which creates a complex version of the cold museum feeling. But the building is inherently beautiful, but maybe too much to exhibit art--I'm surprised there was not the art uproar as there was with the Guggenheim.

The space is more like a large art gallery, but every show is outstanding. Put a few dollars in the donation jar, even though it's free admission, leave a little love.

Free is nice, but I wouldn't plan to spend a lot of time at this museum as it is about two exhibit rooms of folk art. One thing I must mention is that the guards are very nice. Another visit to NYC we went to the American Indian Museum and that one you can spend hours looking at the exhibits, but the guard kept shushing us even though we were talking quietly about the exhibits. If you have an hour to spend and are by Lincoln Center I would say stop in and check out the exhibits.

Free after 5:30 on Fridays and they stay open until 7:30. Good to check out during those times, but I find this museum a bit too scattered and unorganized. This was the last stop after a long day of museum/gallery hopping and I literally spent a good amount of time just passing out on the benches of each floor. On top of being tired, I just couldn't really related to most of the works there so I just made a few quick rounds and waited for my friend to finish looking. The building on the inside is, however, very cool---especially their staircases. The museum has about 5-6 floors, although each floor is very narrow, each space is divided in an interesting way, which is worth checking out.

This place sits next door to MOMA which makes for some stiff competition, but it's a fantastic museum that deserves more attention than it receives. The Henry Darger exhibition was frentic to say the least. His work here includes a volume of the 15,000+ page "In the Realms of the Unreal," and dozens of illustrations and watercolors. None of which was discovered until after his death. The permanent collection includes everything from weathervanes to cutlery and is a varied yet seemingly comprehensive collection of folk art. There are also two sweet staircases here. The main staircase that is open and airy, and a tertiary staircase that sits alongside the wall and leads from the third to the fourth floor. Amazing.