American Folk Art Museum in NYC to Temporarily Close for Renovations
Title: American Folk Art Museum to Undergo Major Renovations in 2024
The American Folk Art Museum (AFAM), a cornerstone of Manhattan’s vibrant arts scene, is set to temporarily close its doors this summer for an ambitious renovation project. Situated on the Upper West Side at 2 Lincoln Square, the museum will begin a phased closure in early May leading into a comprehensive remodeling of its facilities — the most significant upgrades the museum has undergone in over 30 years.
Founded in 1961, AFAM has long served as a vital platform for folk and self-taught artists, preserving the legacies of creators who operate outside the traditional bounds of academic art training. With a mission rooted in accessibility and inclusion, the museum has offered free admission since its inception, embracing diverse expressions through handmade objects, decorative arts, quilts, and nonmainstream media.
Scheduled Phased Closures and Renovation Timeline
The museum’s current exhibition, Somewhere to Roost, will close on Friday, May 2, with the rest of AFAM’s gallery spaces set to shutter by Monday, May 26. The renovation project is scheduled for completion in spring 2025, timed to align with the 250th anniversary of the United States’ independence celebration.
The enhancements will focus on multiple key areas of AFAM’s infrastructure:
– A complete redesign of the museum shop, with new flooring, custom-built cabinetry, and modern shelving displays.
– A revitalized courtyard area to accommodate expanded outdoor programming.
– Remodeling of public-facing restrooms for better accessibility and comfort.
– An updated entry façade that aims to improve both aesthetics and visitor flow.
– Overhauls of internal office spaces and systems operations to support the museum’s expanding workload.
While the physical space undergoes transformation, AFAM’s popular online gift shop will remain fully operational, allowing continued access to its eclectic selection of handcrafted art, books, textiles, and one-of-a-kind folk-inspired items.
Partnership with the Manhattan New York Temple
The funding partnership behind the renovations includes generous support from the Manhattan New York Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which owns the building at 2 Lincoln Square. The Temple is also conducting its own construction upgrades, scheduled for completion by 2028.
A Legacy Rooted in Inclusiveness
AFAM’s commitment to showcasing unorthodox art forms has distinguished it among New York City’s many cultural institutions. In addition to its significant quilt collection, the museum is known for presenting imaginative and culturally rich artifacts that include weathervanes, memory paintings, hand-carved instruments, and folk-style wooden toys — works that reflect identity, spirituality, heritage, and social commentary through the lens of individual creativity.
The exhibition programming often bridges historical folk art traditions with contemporary self-taught artists, reframing conventional art history narratives to celebrate ingenuity and personal storytelling.
Recent exhibitions such as Anything but Simple: Gift Drawings and the Shaker Aesthetic (2025–25) have called attention to lesser-explored artistic practices, showcasing intricate drawings and handmade objects from Shaker communities — a reflection of AFAM’s curatorial strategy to amplify underrepresented voices and challenge hierarchical views of art production.
Looking Ahead
While the physical closure may disappoint visitors in the short term, the museum encourages its community to stay engaged digitally, support through online purchasing, and consider financial contributions to help sustain independent, accessible art institutions like AFAM.
Upon reopening, the museum plans to celebrate its new chapter with refreshed programming and exhibitions, continuing its legacy as a space for discovery and celebration of the art made by those outside the mainstream.
For updates on construction progress, reopening dates, and new exhibition announcements, visitors are encouraged to subscribe to AFAM’s newsletter via their website and follow them on social media platforms. The transformation promises to enhance not only the structural integrity of the venue but also its continued relevance as a pioneer in folk and self-taught artistic expression.
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For more information, visit the official American Folk Art Museum website at https://folkartmuseum.org.