Museum of International Folk Art

The Museum of International Folk Art is a folk art museum on Museum Hill in Santa Fe holding approximately 130,000 objects from over 100 countries. Its collection spans five exhibition wings featuring both permanent displays and rotating shows.

Florence Dibell Bartlett founded the museum in 1953 to promote understanding of global creative traditions and artistic expressions. Alexander Girard subsequently donated his private collection, which became central to the museum's holdings.

The Girard Wing displays selections from Alexander Girard's collection, showing how people worldwide express their traditions through handmade objects. Visitors notice how similar everyday items take on distinct regional character through local craftsmanship and design choices.

Visitors should explore all five wings and allow time to return for rotating exhibitions since content changes regularly. Planning a weekday visit works well for quieter viewing, and checking hours ahead of time ensures the museum is open.

One exhibition presents artifacts without text labels, instead providing multimedia devices at the front desk for visitor use. This approach lets each person connect with the objects through their own interpretation rather than guided information.