Mirrored dresser from the American Rococo Revival bedroom suite that fetched $20,680 total.
NEW YORK CITY — An estimated 1,000 people began lining the streets of Manhattan early on Thursday evening, July 11, to view the much awaited exhibition, “American Anthem Part II; Masterworks from the American Folk Art Museum.”
The museum celebrated its inaugural event in its new West 53rd Street building in grand style, presenting the public with a unique opportunity to view a selection of old standby icons of American folk art along with major new acquisitions donated in honor of the opening of the new facility.
Side by side with revered early American rdf_Descriptions from the collection, such as the flag gate, were contemporary pieces by today’s highly regarded folk artists.
“This is the first time that the museum is presenting masterpieces from the collection by Twentieth Century self-taught artists alongside folk art from earlier centuries in a continuous timeline,” stated Brooke Davis Anderson, co-curator of the exhibition and director and curator of the museum’s Contemporary Center.
About one third of more than 225 objects in the exhibition are devoted to Twentieth Century self-taught artists, placing their work in a historical continuum with traditional folk art from the permanent collection.
The new building quadruples the museum’s exhibition space, enhances education and programming facilities, and expands public services and amenities. The new facility allows the museum to display a substantial number of artworks from its permanent collection of 4,000 objects.
The museum, at 45 West 53rd Street, is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm; Fridays until 8 pm. For information, 212-265-1040 or www.folkartmuseum.org.
