“Folk Art” is primarily utilitarian and decorative, created not by trained artists, but by peasants and laborers. Other names include “naïve art” and “outsider art”.

Traditional folk art utilizes humble materials like cloth, wood, pottery and paper. Childlike simplicity and sometimes awkward perspectives are part of the rustic charm in everything from baskets, hooked rugs, quilts and samplers to masks, toys, whirligigs, and ornaments. Some have religious themes; some are whimsical.

The creators are usually anonymous, with the exception of a few more sophisticated artists like Edward hicks, Henri Rousseau and Grandma Moses.

Pieces from our ETC. collection include:

- #PA059. Guatemalan primitive painting.

- #PA094 Mola appliqué of cat from the San Blas islands off Panama

- #M443 Folk art appliqué from Central America.

- #M487. Hand carved and painted wooden horse on wheels.  (Possibly child’s toy from India.)