American Folk Art: Revisiting the Collection of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller

The astonishing story of American folk art―from portraits to wooden toys to weathervanes―and its vital links to modern art, brought to life in an engaging and accessible hardback

This volume, American Folk Art: Revisiting the Collection of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller brings together 40 exceptional works, from painted portraits and stenciled still lifes to weathervanes and wooden toys. The engaging and richly illustrated book explores Abby Aldrich Rockefeller’s extraordinary collection of 19th-century American folk art and its foundational connections to The Museum of Modern Art.
In tandem with championing modern art as a cofounder of MoMA in 1929, Rockefeller played a pivotal role in recognizing American folk art as integral to the nation’s artistic traditions. She was among the earliest collectors to appreciate the vital links between folk art and modern art. The book’s introduction and select commentaries highlight these resonances and illuminate the individual and community-based artistic practices of folk art’s makers.