Skip to main content
Home

Home

Top navigation start

  • EMAIL LIST
  • DONATE
  • MEMBERSHIP
  • PLAN EVENT
  • EDUCATORS
BACK
  • Dedicated Right Nav
    • Newark Black Film Festival
      • Newark Black Film Festival
      • Film Inquiries
      • Youth Cinema Schedule
      • Adult Cinema Schedule
      • Sponsors
    • Tiaras to Toe Rings
      • Tiaras to Toe Rings Overview
      • Tibet
      • China
      • Japan
      • Korea
      • South Asia
      • Southeast Asia
      • Amulets
    • Red Luster
      • Red Luster Overview
      • East Asia
      • Southeast Asia
      • Central Asia
      • Leather
      • Functions
    • Sponsors
    • Tibet Collection Exhibitions
      • Tibet Collection Exhibitions
      • Chapel of the Masters
        • Overview
        • Arhat
        • Mahasiddha
        • Nyingma Order
        • Kadam Order
        • Kagyu Order
        • Sakya Order
        • Gelug Religious Order
      • Chapel of the Fierce Protectors
        • Overview
        • Rituals and Ritual Implements
        • Deities
      • From the Sacred Realm
        • Overview
        • Five Tathagatha Buddha
        • Bodhisattva
        • Paradises and Purelands
  • Visit
    • Plan Your Visit
      • Directions
      • Admission & Hours
      • Accessibility
      • Visitor's Guide
      • Contact Us
    • Museum Tours
      • Public Tours
      • Group Tours
        • Adult Groups Request form
    • Amenities
      • Newark Area Links
  • On View
    • Exhibitions
      • Featured
      • Upcoming
      • Ongoing
      • Previous
      • Traveling
    • On View
      • Arts of Global Africa
      • American Art
        • Overview
        • Seeing America
      • Arts of the Americas
      • Arts of Asia
        • Arts of Asia Overview
        • Tibet
        • China
        • Japan
        • South & Southeast Asia
        • Oceania
        • Korea
      • Art of the Ancient Mediterranean
      • Decorative Arts
        • Overview
        • Style, Status, Sterling
        • Great Pots
      • Ballantine House
      • Museum Garden
        • Overview
        • Fire Museum
      • Science Exhibits
        • Overview
        • Dynamic Earth
        • Planetarium
        • Generation Fit
        • emPOWERED
        • Saturn
  • Programs
    • Temp
    • For Adults
      • Gallery Tours & Activities
      • Second Sundays
      • Courses and Workshops
      • Late Thursdays
      • Lectures and Public Conversations
      • Films & Performances
      • Special Events
      • Members Events
      • Benefit Events
      • Members Travel
      • Newark Black Film Festival
      • Jazz in the Garden
    • For Youth & Families
      • Planetarium
        • Overview
        • Schedule
        • School Groups
        • Skywatch
      • MakerSPACE
      • Creative Play
        • Family Drop-Ins
      • Interactive Galleries
      • Explorers Program
        • General Information
        • Application
        • Upcoming Events
        • Stay Connected
      • Camp Newark Museum
        • Camp General Information
        • Camp Schedule & Registration
        • Parent Testimonials
        • Camp FAQ's
      • Special Events
      • NBFF Youth Cinema
      • Holiday Program
    • For Educators
      • School & Teacher
      • Class Trips
      • Visiting Your Classroom
      • After School at the Museum
      • Professional Development
  • About
    • Mission & Governance
      • History
      • Mission
      • Financial Information
      • Trustees
      • Leadership
    • Press Office
      • Press Releases
      • Media Only
      • In the News
      • Archived News
      • Archived Press Releases
    • Museum Links
      • Social Media
      • Career Opportunities
      • Internship Program
      • Community Partners
      • Area Links
    • Library & Archives
      • Library & Archives
      • Collection Search
      • Library Search
    • Museum Collection
      • Collection Search
  • Support Us
    • Join or Renew
      • Membership
      • Become a Member
      • Renew Membership
      • Gift Membership
      • Members Travel
      • Founder's Society
    • Give
      • Donate Today
        • Annual Fund
        • One Time Gift
        • Recurring Gift
        • Tribute Gift
      • Benefit Events
      • Corporate Support
        • Overview
        • Sponsorships & Underwriting
        • Corporate Membership
        • Event Rentals
      • Individual Support
        • Overview
        • Annual Fund
        • Membership
      • Ways To Give
        • Overview
        • Gifts in Honor or Memory
        • Gifts of Securities
        • Gifts of Art
      • Planned Giving
      • List of Supporters
      • Volunteer
        • Overview
        • Volunteer Organization
        • Business & Community Council
    • Members Travel
      • Members Travel
      • Testimonials
      • Day Tours
      • Domestic Travel
      • International Travel
      • Before you go
      • Travel FAQ

Search form

Directions
  • Direction Map
  • GET DIRECTION
 
  • William L. Hawkins, Building the Statue of Liberty, 1987, Enamel and collage on masonite, Gift of Dennis and Marta Hayes, © estate of William Hawkins, 2012  2012.57
  • Unknown artist, Worked Pennsylvania, Walking stick with man and serpent, 1875-1900, Carved and painted wood, Purchase 2013 Helen McMahon Brady Cutting Fund  2013.7.3
  • Unknown artist, Possibly worked in Los Angeles, King Kong and Fay Wray, ca. 1933, Wood, paint, Purchase 2013 Helen McMahon Brady Cutting Fund  2013.7.7
  • Unknown artist, Possibly worked in Georgia, Dancing Pig (Barbeque sign), 1930s, Wood, paint, tin, reflective glass, Purchase 2013 Helen McMahon Brady Cutting Fund  2013.7.1
Share Exhibition
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Google+
  • Pinterest
  • Email

Folk Art?
Recent Acquisitions
THIS EXHIBITION IS NOW CLOSED

This exhibition closed November 2015.

With the opening of the exhibitions American Primitive Painting in 1930 and American Folk Sculpture in 1931, the Newark Museum ushered in the national discussion of exactly what made art “folk.”  Since that time, entire museums have been devoted to the display and definition of this aspect of America’s artistic heritage.

The painting and sculpture on view in this gallery are all recent acquisitions for the Museum’s celebrated holdings in American art. They range from the mid-19th century to the late 20th century.

Some of the terms commonly used today for works such as those seen here are folk art, outsider art, self-taught art, or even visionary art.  None of these terms, however, accurately defines what this diverse body of work expresses; nor do they explain the appeal that painting and sculpture such as this can offer to the museum visitor.

Some of these works were made by untrained (self-taught) artists; some of them were produced by people who lived outside the mainstream of society. Still others could be described as having been created by someone who is “visionary.”

In the end, each work in this gallery can be appreciated for some aspect of its form, color, technique, content or history.  Which simply makes them art.

Previous Folk Art?

VIEW CALENDAR DONATE TODAY

PROGRAMS

  • Docent-led Gallery Tours, Daily

    Get more out of the Museum's renowned collections by taking part in a gallery tour led by one of our trained docents.

    VIEW DETAILS
  • Register Your Child Today for Camp Newark Museum

    Six Individual One-Week Sessions for Ages 3-14 Come spend the summer with us at Camp Newark Museum, a fun, innovative six-week experience where children expand their knowledge through exploration of the Museum’s world class art and science collections. Arouse curiosity by investigating treasures made by man and by nature to gain a new perspective of the world around us.

    VIEW DETAILS

FEATURED

Featured Exhibition Photo

Arts of Global Africa

Now on View

See one of the nation's oldest and most comprehensive collections of its kind in the Museum's fully renovated flagship space on the first floor.

VIEW DETAILS

Newark Museum

973.596.6550
  • ADMISSION HOURS
  • Wednesday - Sunday Noon - 5pm
  • Closed Mondays & Tuesdays (except MLK Jr. Day)
  • New Year's Day, July 4, Thanksgiving Day & December 25.
49 Washington Street, Newark, NJ 07102-3176 | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY POLICY
© 2016 NEWARK MUSEUM
Contact Us

Hours
Wednesday - Sunday Noon - 5pm
Closed Mondays & Tuesdays (except MLK Jr. Day)
New Year's Day, July 4, Thanksgiving Day & December 25.
@Newark Museum

Appalachian square #dancing at #newarkmuseum #LateThursday. #newarkatnight @ Newark Museum https://t.co/iLDnXHUUzJ
Directions
Footer Map
Newark Museum
973.596.6550
49 Washington Street,
Newark, NJ
07102-3176

GET DIRECTIONS

Adult Group: 973.596.6550
School Group: 973.596.6690
Membership: 973.596.6699
The Newark Museum is committed to making its collection, buildings, programs and services accessible to all audiences. For more information click here
Contact Us

Hours
Wednesday - Sunday Noon - 5pm
Closed Mondays & Tuesdays (except MLK Jr. Day)
New Year's Day, July 4, Thanksgiving Day & December 25.
@Newark Museum

Appalachian square #dancing at #newarkmuseum #LateThursday. #newarkatnight @ Newark Museum https://t.co/iLDnXHUUzJ
Directions
Footer Map
Newark Museum
973.596.6550
49 Washington Street,
Newark, NJ
07102-3176

GET DIRECTIONS


Adult Group: 973.596.6650
School Group: 973.596.6690
Membership: 973.596.6699
The Newark Museum is committed to making its collection, buildings, programs and services accessible to all audiences. For more information click here
49 Washington Street, Newark, NJ 07102-3176 | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY POLICY
© 2018 NEWARK MUSEUM