The American Folk Art Museum is basically an art museum in Manhattan's Upper West Side at Lincoln Street and Columbus Avenue. It's the only museum devoted solely to the appreciation of traditional artistic expressions and the visual aesthetic appreciation of native visual arts and cultural traditions of the United States and other parts of the world. The museum is very much different from the average modern art museums in that it has a kind of communal feel. The reason for this is that its curators, having come from different parts of the country and with different aesthetic preferences, have somehow come up with a common style. This is perhaps one of the main reasons why many people find the museum so appealing, as they can't exactly tell what they're being exposed to. It exhibits a certain charisma that makes you interested in what you're seeing even before you fully comprehend what you're looking at.
The art works showcased in the American Folk Art Museum may at first glance seem to be simple paintings, prints, sculptures or jewelry, but upon further inspection you will notice that the beauty lurking behind those forms is really much deeper. When you visit this gallery you must not think you are just seeing masterpieces of visual art but rather you'll be able to get glimpses of the culture, the history and the way of life of the people who originally produced these works of art. In other words, what you will be able to see at the Folk Art Auction is authentic works made by an authentic artist. Because most authentic works are quite old (if not, then it would be too early to tell if the work is authentic) it can cost a fortune. On the other hand, if you choose pieces that are relatively new, you can expect to buy them for just a few dollars.
In the past, the only way for an artistic creation to be sold at an auction would be for an individual dealer or an auction house to do the marketing for the item. These days, thanks to the Internet, it is very possible for a buyer to search out and purchase authentic works online. This means that once you find an American Folk Art Auction you wish to attend, it can be done from the comfort of your home or office with little to no effort on your part. Not only will you have a large selection of items to choose from at the auction, but you will also be able to bid from anywhere in the world.
Another advantage to buying American folk art at an auction is that because the art gallery is privately owned and operated they do not charge admission or special service fees to the public unlike their government based counterparts. That means you do not need to pay additional gasoline money to drive to an American Folk Art Gallery to view a particular piece of artwork. All you need is access to the Internet and you can view the works of art of your choice from the comfort of your living room.
Another benefit to purchasing your work at an auction is that you can usually purchase the work piece at a much lower cost then if you purchased it from a gallery. The reason for this is that the owners of the art gallery are forced to sell their pieces at an auction since the government does not support the public funding of these museums. As such, these owners of the art gallery are not going to be willing to sell their items at prices that will allow them to keep the majority of the profits. Therefore, the average person will save up to fifty percent off the original cost of purchasing a certain piece.
There are many different reasons as to why one should purchase American folk art at auctions. In essence, these are works of art that have been given as a gift or donation to a museum and because of the association the museum holds with the artist, it will not be as difficult as one may think to acquire this unique form of art. Once you learn what is American folk art, you will understand just how much it means to the people who are willing to share this art with the world. This beautiful art form has been around for hundreds of years and it is only now, after so many years, that it is becoming common place in many American homes.