A Museum Worth the Visit
The Museum of International Folk Art is more than 70 years old and celebrates global art traditions. Its collections include more than 150,000 objects, showcasing fascinating global cultures and constituting the world’s largest collection of international folk art.
The museum, located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is part of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.
Over the years, the Museum of International Folk Art has gained national and international recognition for its unique collection and exhibitions. It is a must-visit destination for art enthusiasts and those interested in diverse cultures, including Hispanic heritage.
Exploring the museum is like traveling the world through the centuries, discovering treasures tucked around every corner. It’s fascinating to find out how these spectacular items create a common bond between people who have lived very different lives.
The Museum’s Founder: Florence Dibell Bartlett
The core collection was donated by the museum’s founder, Florence Dibell Bartlett, in the late 1940s, when a museum dedicated to the collecting, care, and display of folk art was still an idea awaiting completion. Following the example of her father, Adolphus Clay Bartlett, who owned a successful hardware company in Chicago, Florence Dibell Bartlett was a generous and principled philanthropist with a strong sense of civic responsibility.
Referring to herself as a “civic worker” rather than a “philanthropist,” Bartlett supported numerous causes, including the Eleanor Clubs, which provided housing, education, and employment counseling for working women; the Renaissance Society of the University of Chicago; and the American Scandinavian Society.
Living in a time of widespread industrialization, Bartlett championed the handmade. The Museum of International Folk Art was a final and lasting act of generosity before her death in May 1954, eight months after it opened.
Bartlett envisioned and funded the original building. She envisioned and funded the original building in the foothills of Santa Fe, which was designed by architect John Gaw Meem, as well as the museum’s extensive Bartlett Library. She donated the museum’s founding collection of more than 2,500 objects, including textiles, costumes, ceramics, wood carvings, paintings, and jewelry.
This core collection provides a foundation for growth and development and now includes over 130,000 objects from more than 100 countries. Bartlett also established a foundation dedicated to supporting the museum’s mission.
The American Alliance of Museums accredits this incredible museum, which is a member of the International Council of Museums, the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, and the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
Planning Your Visit to Museum Hill
The Museum of International Folk Art is just two and a half miles south of the Santa Fe Plaza on Museum Hill, near other museums and cultural institutions at 706 Camino Lejo.
Admission is $12 for adults, with free admission for children 16 and younger, and discounted admission for New Mexico residents.
Visitors can also purchase a CulturePass, which grants access to multiple museums and historic sites in New Mexico for one price ($30 per person).
Be sure to check into guided tours, artist demonstrations, and interactive gallery experiences, which help make it a great destination for families and art enthusiasts.
Visitors can check the museum’s website for more information on collections, exhibits, and workshops. Call 505-476-1204 for additional information.
Exploring the Collection and Exhibitions
The museum hosts the world’s largest collection of international folk art, showcasing the cultural heritage of people from many continents, including South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe.
The Multiple Visions exhibition, designed by Alexander Girard, is one of the focal points of the museum. This exhibit features more than 10,000 items in an enormous space, but all this is just a tenth of the Girard collection, which is part of the museum’s core collection.
You can visit this long-term exhibit over and over and make discoveries each time. From detailed miniature scenes to playful puppets, Multiple Visions offers something to delight everyone.
The core collection includes a wide range of items, such as household objects, ceramics, paintings, puppets, and costumes, making it a treasure trove of decorative and utilitarian pieces from around the world.
Exhibitions showcase the latest discoveries and trends in international folk art and include interactive gallery experiences and artist demonstrations.
Even without visiting in person, you can explore the museum’s online collections and experiences to discover the beauty and significance of folk art from diverse cultures.
The Museum of International Folk Art is a glorious trek through the world of folk art and history.
Don’t miss it!
STORY SPONSORED BY MUSEUM OF INTERNATIONAL FOLK ART
