folk art

noun

: the traditional decorative or utilitarian art of the people that is often an expression of community life and is distinguished from academic or self-conscious or cosmopolitan expression
Along with exhibits showcasing such folk art as quilts, jewelry and toys, visitors learn about the influence of folk art on contemporary art through tours, programs, symposia and art workshops.Shawn Sell

Examples of folk art in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The International Folk Art Market 2025, the largest folk art market in the world, takes place between July 10 and July 13, 2025, at Santa Fe Railyard Park. Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025 What visitors may overlook is the painstaking upkeep that goes into these folk art statues that are exposed to Mother Nature’s whims and Father Time’s unrelenting wear and tear. Paul Nicolaus, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 June 2025 Directed by Liu Yu-Shu and inspired by childhood memories of the folk art form, the project has landed a spot in Annecy’s VR Works competition section. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 June 2025 Other categories of objects include Americana, period furniture, folk art, ceramics, porcelain, glass, silver, jewelry, textiles and decorative arts. Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for folk art

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of folk art was in 1892

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Cite this Entry

“Folk art.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/folk%20art. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

folk art

noun
: the traditional art of usually untrained people typically created by an unknown artist

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