What is folk art?

There is a huge antique and collectible category that has really become popular over the last decade called folk art. Folk Art has been around forever but different items have risen and fallen in value and popularity over the decades but for the most part has remained a solid bet as far has holding value and or increasing in value.

You either like folk art or you don’t. It has taken me a while to really appreciate the different genres of folk art especially primitive folk art painting. To me it looks like a third grader got into some paint and slapped some on an old board or piece of tin but folk art paintings can be found in high end auctions or art galleries across the country, especially if the artist was prolific and has passed away. Objects by late artists tend to go up in value because there will never be any more produced. Some examples of those artists are Mose Tolliver or Howard Finster.

So just what is considered folk art? Folk art can be antique or contemporary. It is any art form produced by an indigenous culture, tradespeople, or peasants and is usually not considered as art at the time it is produced but was made to be utilitarian and serve a need or purpose. It is often geographical such as North Georgia pottery producers such as the Meaders family.

18th and 19th century painters traveled around the country doing portraits, in the Great Depression era it was hobos or “tramps” producing art for kind people who would give them food and such. Signs, carved figures, pottery, metal work and paintings can all be forms of folk art. Antique quilts and needlework as well as weathervanes can be considered folk art! On reruns of the Antiques Roadshow someone brought in a small diorama that was made in the 1930’s by a man in prison. Yes, that is also considered folk art!

The next time you are at the antique shops or watching the latest episodes of American Pickers, keep you eye out for some folk art! It is a great collectible to decorate your homes and garden with. Maybe you can find and old Metal coffee pot and hang it the garden as a birdhouse and voila! You are a folk artist!

Happy Collecting!

Jillinda Falen has been buying and selling antiques for over 27 years. She is a licensed REALTOR and estate liquidation specialist. You can contact here through the Warner Robins Patriot or via email at falen@windstream.net.