Museum of International Folk Art Reviews

The exhibit on Alexander Girard was captivating. The main exhibits can get a little overwhelming. All those little people. Like being stuck in "It's a Small World" in Disney World, without the music. But I find the wonderfully graphic arts of Africa (Morocco, Ethiopia, Mali, sub Saharan Africa...all of the continent really) a refreshing eye refresher. Really, there is something for everyone.

The Girard exhibit was crazy! I think I liked it, but I’m still not sure. Thousands and thousands of pieces arranged in vignettes. I’m glad I had a docent who hit the highlights for me. It would be easier to breeze through the exhibit and just think it was a hoarder’s dream come true. But when you take a few minutes to look deeper, you see the adventure. There are other exhibits that are more traditional. But what I liked the most was the location. Museum Hill has beautiful outdoor sculptures. And the café is a fabulous place to eat.

This museum is amazing- I thoroughly enjoyed viewing different forms of folk art and children's toys. To full enjoy it, use the audio device tour. You won't fully understand different showings in the museum. Takes 1-2 hours to go through.

Santa Fe has some wonderful, endearing museums and this one probably is the best. In fact this was one of the best museums I have seen any where. None of that stodgy Victorian, Renaissance, Italian stuff that people gawk at in the large and famous museums around the country. This one is intimate, beautifully curated and laid out and a pleasure to enjoy.

Listening to the docent adds a lot to the experience, otherwise we wouldn't be able to figure out what's what. This museum is located in a museum complex with other museums and a cafe (which has really good food!). Worth an hour or two.

Folk art from around the world is displayed here. We were fortunate to be one of the first visitors on the day the museum opened after Covid colsure. It is a well designed facility with two spiral walks to reflect on the senses overload in the folk art museum. Just the carpets from Afghanistan telling the USA war story from the weavers' perspective, is reason enough to go outside and reflect.
The Native American exhibit was very limited due to upgrades. The statute garden outside made up for that in droves. We cannot say enough about the friendliness of the staff and security. They really made us feel special and welcome. Unfortunately, the restaurant and gift shop were still closed, but that is a minor inconvenience.
It is well worth a visit when in Santa Fe.

I love t his museum with its permanent and rotating exhibits and always put it on my list to visit when in Santa Fe. The collections are incredible and each rotating exhibit is rich in thought provoking works and ways to view the world. You can grab lunch and go back inside, or step over to 2 (maybe now 3) other museums located in the same plaza. If you like folk art and a variety from around the world, you will love what you see here.

We made it to the museum just in time for the docent tour (2:00) which added so much to the experience. The museum is fantastic and appealed to my 9 yo grandson too. We never saw everything but that’s ok as I will definitely go back!!

There were 6 different exhibits going on when I went there. (1) The newest is a "fabric/design" exhibit by famous designer Girard. (2) Girard’s look at "distinctive textiles". (3) A Gathering of Voices: Folk Art, Judith Espinar = which shows how she decided to group diffr. pieces together to make one statement (like a dinner table setting). (4) a small exhibit on pieces used in "protests", and (5) and then a LONG TERM exhibit with 100,000!!! pieces of folk art on display. (6) if you take the elevator downstairs, there is a room that explains how they determine if a piece is folk art or not (eg, if a Japanese artist did a copy of a Peruvian piece to sell, it's not folkart bec. he is not Peruvian.)
MINIATURE FOLKART = this exhibit is by far the best thing to see. I suggest you go there FIRST, as it will take well more than an hour to view it, and you need to be fresh to stick it out and truly appreciate each piece. The art is often grouped together based on similarity, and mixes pieces from different countries, ...such as "altar pieces", or "animals carved out of wood," or dollhouses. They often create a scenario -- like buildings along a river, with boats from different countries.
Unfortunately they do not have SIGNS!!! which is weird and bad. You have to carry a booklet around with you and match the numbers to the display. (You can also have a free audio tour, or a docent tour, but both only do a handful of the exhibits). The information in the booklet is EXCELLENT!!! I'm so sorry that I saw many people without the booklet, as it doubles and triples the enjoyment of the pieces. In one scene, there is a row of people walking up a mountain, and it's easy to miss that there is a tiny little nativity scene at the top. Or a flowery wreath looks decorative, but was made for a child's grave. Or that six countries make almost exactly the same kind of wooden dolls; how is that possible?
So many different artistic genres! Some witty, others scary, some sentimental, others informative. Using clay, straw, wood, bisque, cloth, aluminum, etc. The Girard Family collection of 100,000 objects is from more than 100 countries on six continents.
TIPS: It's on Museum Hill, a few minutes outside of downtown, with a large parking lot, and can be reached by free shuttle bus. It is really big and creatively curated. I stayed much longer than I thought I would, and was late for my lunch date. The gift shop is packed with international unique items, even "useful" things like purses and hats. $14 pp for nonresidents.

We went to the museum of Folk Art with our convention members intentionally to see the nativity displays scattered throughout the exhibits.

An interesting collection of soooo many items. This collection is not earth shattering in any way except for its sheer size. We loved the neighboring exhibition of the Mexican Cartoneria most - this was stunning, informative & educational as well as colourful. Favorite items display was interesting and unique.

My grandaughter really enjoyed going here. The love all kinds of art and this is a great place to experience art.

This place is packed to the full of interesting art to look at! There was so much all over! The Girard exhibit was so intricate with a wide variety of pieces to look at! The Japan spooky exhibit was interesting as well. The “scary ghost walk thru” was a little dorky but if jump scares get you or you’re a horror novice then you might like it. This place is definitely awesome and you’d honestly have to come more than once to really see all of it and take it in.

What a unique experience! I can truly say this is one of the most unique museums I have ever been in. We loved the whole museum. You could spend a long time just in the Girard wing. We spent a lot of time watching the videos, reading, and seeing the prisoner art. I loved learning how to make the squares. Do read everything with those exhibits or you miss a lot. The Pedro Linares exhibit was also incredible. I thought the telephone wire exhibits were so amazing! It’s mind boggling how they do it. The Ukrainian art was incredible. We actually ran out of time, so our gift shop stop was much quicker than I like. They have a great selection of books related to the art, but I only had time to glance at them. If I lived here, I’d be a member of this museum. I think you will see different things every time you come.

This is a must see! We have seen lots of museums worldwide but this is incredible. The amount of items and the unique way they are displayed makes this a most memorable visit.

The staging of the exhibits was wonderful and quite captivating. There were diaramas for each culture that were done in minature. They even had little peep holes at small child level for little kids. The attention to detail was amazing. It actually reminded me of the Walt Disney "Its a Small World" ride at Disney World. There is a free book with detailed information about each exhibit if you want further interesting information.
My husband is Retired Military so we both got in for free!! That policy wasn't printed anywhere we saw so I don't know if it happens every day.
The gift how was great and we spent far too much there but justified it with knowing the profits went to help the Museum.

Whenever we go to Santa Fe, which is several times a year, we treat ourselves to this instructive and entertaining museum. The permanent collection lans heavily toward dioramas of village life, but the true eye-openers are the temporary exhibits. On our last visit, we were fascinated by one on beadwork. It was international, featuring pieces organized by function, rather than segregated ethnically. Ceremonial garments and headquarters were in one quadrant, a beaded stethoscope in another..

loved the walking tour and the museum staff was great. the artwork was exquisite and this exhibit took about an hour getting through

The Alexander Girard collection alone is worth the admission. Girard created wonderful installations with the thousands of items in his private collection. Spend a little time on the street scenes; there are hidden humorous gems among them.

One of the most unique and fascinating museums I have ever bisied. The collection shows bo both diversity and commonality of art on a global scale. The grounds offer a terrific vista.

Very interesting collection of folk art from around the world. A guide book explains each piece but wish there had been signs instead. Interesting special display of Peruvian folk art also.

I loved this museum. Could have spent much more time there, if travel schedule allowed.
It's not "just" paintings on a wall; much--if not most--exhibits are objects. And so many!!
Kids seemed to really enjoy it.
Wish I'd gone there, and the next-door Native American museum earlier in trip, the basic knowledge would have been good introduction for many other activities.
That whole museum plaza space is simply a terrific....space/site, worth a visit even without going inside the museums.
I spent almost 3 hours in this museum, and feel like it was not enough. I would have happily spent more.

This was a tremendous surprise on our recent trip to Santa Fe. You could spend three days exploring the Girard collection alone. It is that huge and that interesting and would appeal to kids as well as adults. The temporary exhibitions are done well also and the location also provides some beautiful views.

Really cool museum. They have a lot to see and probably the best section is the Girard wing with the dozens of dioramas. Really informative museum and well laid out.

My wife and I went to this museum. It was outstanding to see folk art from around the world. It highlights the talents from all cultures. It was breathtaking.

This is a great 5 star museum that is entertining for both adults and children. Can easily spend an hour here. Also has two very nice gift shops.

A great collection and a really interesting slice from different cultures around the globe. Well presented and with sufficient contemporary work (frequently with a strong political slant) to make the overall feel relevant.

I had been here many years ago, and had to go again on a recent visit. Impressive collection of folk art.

Fascinating museum that warrants a visit for an afternoon or more. We have traveled all over the country and have rarely seen a collection as eclectic and interesting as this. The facility itself is really nice, clean and bright. The Museum Hill location is spectacular. There is plenty of free parking.

The international miniatures are very entertaining but they are not labeled, as in the most museums, but identified by numbers. The paper guides explaining the numbers were all taken, and the alternative was the clumsy App on Smartphone.
We were lucky to see the Japanese "very scary" show and a very creative show using masks.
It is all fun, great for all ages.
However, there are no books about the Museum in the Museum book store.
The explanation is Covid.
At the Information, I was told that the miniatures can not be labeled because of Covid, ignoring the fact that both other shows had labels.
It seems that curating use Covid for all issues.

Even after reading much praise about this museum, I was not prepared for the scope and richness of its collection. The holdings are thoughtfully arranged into thematic/topical clusters that allow you to appreciate overlapping themes in folk art around the globe.

This exhibit just blew us away. It is hard to explain - you just have to go see it. I million little crafts from around the world displayed with real world charm.

Let me preface this by saying I love museums and especially art museums. However, I found this museum very underwhelming and almost anxiety inducing. None of the exhibits on display interested me. They had one room with dolls and figurines in glass cases that was almost creepy. The rest of the exhibits- faded tapestries, South African phone wire weaving and Vanatu sand designs just weren’t very interesting. Basement exhibit was creepy and claustrophobic. If you have the culture pass, maybe worth seeing. I wouldn’t pay for this otherwise unless there were more interesting exhibits on display.

Wonderful exhibition of artifacts from around the world. It takes a few hours to do the visit well. Also the Hispanic section (Peru) was well documented. Delightful visit.

What a pleasant surprise! Small and interesting, kids and adults alike will enjoy this museum. The commonality of art across the world unites us. Make sure you either take a tour, or get the guide for the main gallery.

This is a sweet, but not small, collection of miniatures. Honestly, I can spend so much time just perusing. Makes for a worthwhile visit.

There sure is a lot to see here. Lots of interesting exhibits. There is a place to get a bite next door.

GO HERE if you have even the remotest interest in folk art. Call ahead and ask when a docent named Ann Murdy will be giving the 1 1/4 hour tour. Remarkable fortune to stumble into this just in time. The Girard Wing is the strangest, most impressive, colorful, humorous, phantasmagorical plaice around. GO THERE. ASK FOR ANN.

Beautiful crafts from all over the world expertly displayed, it was just wonderful! Dolls, trains, needlepoint, toys, some very old.
Easy to find and park, if you get a museum pass you can visit many for one price, it's worth it.

We bought the Culture Pass as suggested upon entry since we planned to spend the day on Museum Hill.

Unique collection. Well worth the 3 hours we spent touring every wing...and could have spent longer. Especially interesting was the Gallery of Conscience.

This is the highest rated museum in Santa Fe and the one I was told to choose (by several people) if I had to choose only one museum in Santa Fe. It is the product of obsessive collecting of miniatures and dioramas from all over the world and you could easily spend hours inspecting all of the cultural scenes set up by the curators. I can see the appeal, but it's a little kitschy for me. The nearby restaurant is very good.

This is the most fun museum I've ever been to!! It takes several visits to see everything. Children and adults alike will be delighted and amazed at the collection. It should not be missed on a trip to Santa Fe!!

In 1883 Italian writer and journalist Carlo Collodi (1826-1890) created the story of Pinocchio. In his story, impoverished and elderly Mister Geppetto was given a piece of wood that initially would have used for a table leg. But he wanted to carve a marionette. And that resulted in the creation of Pinocchio. Now, if the author Collodi along with Mister Geppetto and Pinocchio himself were able to visit this sprawling Folk Art Museum, they would have stayed the night and many more. It is a thrilling place to visit. Folk Art abounds here. And it covers many nations. For us, it was an opportunity to become children of many different cultures and countries. And if you build an appetite, enjoy a leisurely lunch at the Museum Hill Café.

An amazing collection with so much to look at that it's impossible to see everything in one visit.

Also, the numbering on each case should be much bigger and could follow some kind of order - to me it seemed to the case numbers were randomly assigned.

This is a good way to spend 2 - 4 hours. Their permanent collection of toys and collectibles is unbelievable! I'm not really a "museum guy" and really enjoyed it.

Wow- what a collection of world wide folk art
Girard knew how to accumulate art!

Take your time and try to focus on a couple areas for close perusal

Other wise you will be there all day

Worth a visit

Interesting collection of art from around the world, old and contemporary. A bit eclectic presentation. There are two other museums on the "hill" as well.

This was an amazing place to see and my favorite of everything I saw in Santa Fe. Plan to spend several hours. Don't miss it!

A very unusual museum with a collection representing costumes, foods and customs from so many countries. The dioramas are colorful and creative and most pay careful attention to detail.
Forget a 2 hour visit. You could come here for weeks and not study everything.
Museum Hill is worth a visit anyway and there is a great café there too.

The exhibits at this museum are incredible. even if yo have here though of folk art and in any way, visitors will be impressed with the unique creativity at the museum. This is a spot where your imagiatioh can take flight. This place shod be a "Must see" on a visit to Santa Fe. Be sure to stop in to the great gift shop and cafe on the premises .
Tip- if you are planing to visit several museums, get a Culture Pass for $30. It is a great value. You can get one at any of the participating museums.

Interesting folk art Collection of one man - take the docent led tour and then return to the galleries and explore on your own.

The Folk Art Museum was the highlight of our trip to Santa Fe. Incredible exhibits, including a traveling Girard exhibit. Vibrant, alive, challenging, beautiful. So many cultures and points of view. Each of us in our family of five reset our brains by being here and were so excited by the time we left. Exquisite and vital!

This delightful museum offers one couple's high quality folk art collection from around the world and is enjoyed by old and young alike. Set on beautiful Museum Hill outside of town, there are now several other quality museums as well in this otherwise residential area. Parking is plentiful, having great architectural features, sculptures and landscaping. The Cafe offers lunch and teatime treats commensurate to the museums.

You could spend a full day, even two, if so inclined with time to spare. Visiting all of them over time would make sense as well. This was my second visit in 30 years. Generously endowed now, the whole complex has prospered. Congratulations and thank you for a job well done.

If you like folk art this is a must see. They should get wall labels, however. It was annoying to walk around and flip back and forth with the guide book.

Delightful museum with art for all ages. Could have easily spent more time there. Loved the various hands on activities for kids (or adults) located throughout the museum. Great gift shop.

My wife and I loved the Girard Collection of folk art. Thousands of pieces. We can't imagine how anyone could have collected all this, but it was great fun to look at. We highly recommend the docent tour, which provides great background info.

A wonderful museum a short drive from the plaza. There are several museums in the complex and a beautiful courtyard and cafe.
The exhibits were beautiful and well displayed though a bit haphazardly.
Would highly recommend. Be prepared to spend 2 hours.
Don't forget to dine at the excellent cafe.

The Girard Wing had to be built to house Girard's collection of more than 100,000 folk art pieces. As an architect and interior designer, he even placed each object in the exhibit. The result: a spectacular exhibit that you could clearly spend hours -- days -- in. I had fantasies of moving to Santa Fe just to become a docent. His placement of objects from all different cultures was so exacting: he even sized the pieces so it would reinforce perspective on viewing. There's a great gallery guide, but we were fortunate: a visiting docent showed us her favorites. I've always been a fan of village scenes or dollhouses, but this took it to a whole new level. He created a universe!

The figure of an eight year old boy in dancing mode is unique. The motion is palpable and they have curated it just so that you are really drawn

Our favorite museum in Santa Fe is the Museum of International Folk Art is located on the outskirts of town on Museum Hill. The highlight of the museum is the Girald Wing which was formerly the private collection of Alexander Girald, an architect, interior, furniture, and textile designer, who traveled the world accumulating samples of indigenous art, hand-crafted and distinctive to the culture. The collection is comprised of children’s toys, dolls, and figures that are grouped in small settings or around common themes. Most items fall under the description as handicrafts, not being meant to be overly precious or collectable. All items reflect the culture they were produced in and were intended as much for the local families as much as for tourist souvenirs.
The space is vast with every display filled with dozens of items. No labels accompany the displays but you can reference by numbers to an index provided at the entrance to the wing.

Most museums you want to keep coming back for more, not this one.
We enjoyed the Japanese exhibit made the trip worth it.
Truly hated the paper Book guides, everyone touches them, not a good idea during a pandemic, such a pain to look up numbers when it could have easily been mounted on the display case. This is the main reason for my 3 rating.
The work it took to make the individual people was amazing.

The Girard Wing contains thousands of pieces of art, toys, miniatures and textiles from all over the world. My only complaint is the way the display cases are numbered. As you enter the gallery you need to pick up a book to provide explanation of contents of each display, but hard to follow their numbering system.
Another wing contained all sorts of beaded items from all over the world, but primarily American Indian.

This museum is a little chaotic but amazing nonetheless. A great way to see the beautiful linkages between cultures while still celebrates their individual beauty.

This museum gives perspective regarding the folk art of global cultures. Give yourself time to enjoy and absorb this extensive collection. I appreciated the interactive sections for the youth, as well as the opportunity to share thoughts and ideas on site. Do not miss the collection of museums in this area!

This was an incredible museum with an amazing collection of miniatures -- over 10,000 o display that were beautifully presented. I would go back to this museum in a heartbeat and I don't say that often.

The vast, diverse, eclectic collection of everything from carved cactus to an entire funeral procession is just amazing. If you can, do the tour with a docent -- the guide book provided will give you a great deal of information about the pieces, but the docent was a great story teller who filled in the "why" and the "where" of the collection. If it is still up, the bead exhibit will blow your perception of what can be done with a simple bead of glass! Be sure to find the video clear in the back that explains how the various types of beads are made. It is quite amazing the effort required.

The permanent exhibit is astonishing in its breadth and beauty, but the exhibit called "A Gathering of Voices" now there is just flat out gorgeous if you love ceramics like I do. Plates, larger pieces, sculpted pieces...all displayed imaginatively.

We came to the museum thinking we'd spend an hour or so. There were so many things to see & process, we quickly realized that that would be inadequate. This museum largely houses the personal collection of one man. The items represent many different cultures & styles. It's really a bit overwhelming, but incredibly interesting.

It's definitely worth a visit!

To be totally honest, I came to Santa Fe to see the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum but it wasn’t a ‘come anytime’ museum, you had to have reservations so we pivoted. NOT DISAPPOINTED AT ALL!! What a surprising and joyful experience. Such a variety of exhibits-lots of miniatures, which I ADORE, wood carved people, animals and foods. Circus displays, depictions of daily life, fantasy and tradition. Dioramas, tapestries, masks, paintings and recreated buildings of all types, ancient to more modern day. Some art was very precise and intricate while other pieces were more childlike and simple. All evoked a certain feeling and vibe that you take with you, long after you leave. This is history and storytelling, rolled into one. I took many, many pictures. We only had two hours but I could have spent a whole day here.
Children might or might not appreciate the exhibits, depending on their attention span-there are so many tiny details to take in BUT on the other hand, exposing young people to something not on a screen, seems like a worthwhile endeavor. Highly recommend.

My grown sons and I really enjoyed this museum. We spent quite a while in the Girard wing. The sheer number of exhibited folk art was phenomenal. The arrangement of the pieces made them all the more interesting. The gift shop also had some cool items -- many reasonably priced.

We love museums! This had a great/powerful exhibit about the war and other political torment in Peru. We learned a lot.

This was a unique, interesting museum. The Girard Collection was impressive for the amount of pieces and the number of countries represented. However, the arrangement of the collection, while fun to look at, was hard to navigate and understand despite the brochure provided. We still enjoyed our visit very much and found ourselves leaving with an expanded view on art.

Museum of International Folk Art is a beautiful testament to love and dedication. The collection is lovely organized and extremely accessible. Despite the magnificent scope it has an intimacy reflective of the love of the founders. Superb!

The exhibits here seemed to be divided into two major areas. One side was very current with protest art from Peru with great background on the problems there and art expressed in clothing, retableaus and posters. There was patron involvement opportunity—it just seemed very urgent. Then there was the permanent displays of folk objects from around the world. The displays were accompanied by a guide book you picked up at the entrance. It didn’t seem to follow any kind of pattern with one diorama after another, jumping from country to country, with very hurried descriptions of each. Africa—yes the entire continent—received very short shrift. It was amazing to see so much in such a small space, but it was overwhelming. More context on fewer objects would be helpful.

What an interesting place with folk art from everywhere! the dishes, textiles and the amazingly large room filled with small vignettes from different countries - carved or sewn or woven gatherings of people at tables, in a circus, before a castle...

If you like Folk Art...this is the place for you! There was so much to see and we only had an hour there. The collections from around the world are amazing and worth taking a look at!

Since we had a free day we decided to head to Museum Hill to take in this museum. It was a great choice. The highlight was the collection that was donated to the museum by Mr. Girard. he has his own wing. His collection might be overwhelming but it is worth seeing. There is a free guide to go with the room. The other rooms held textiles and ceremonial outfits, musical instruments and a place to actually create folk art.

This is without a doubt a most impressive collection, almost overwhelming in its magnitude. The number of folk art figurines (over 100,000) is truly astonishing. Some of the dioramas are truly impressive if sometimes lacking in accuracy or context. You will definitely tire of these figures/dioramas well before studying them all.

That said, we expected a broader range of folk art.the other areas of the museum seem hollow and poorly curated by comparison.

I enjoyed the museum, which has an extensive collection from all over the world. My friends were head over heels about it; I wasn’t. While a lot of it was great, and it all was interesting, the collection is a bit uneven. It can also be a bit overwhelming after a while, and I found the exhibits to be a bit disorganized. It was definitely worth the visit though.

An amazing display of privately donated art pieces spanning global tribal influences. A blending of traditional, contemporary and potent statements.

Very interesting; included Hispanic music exhibit as well as many others. Purchase the multi- exhibit pass for savings and multiple options.

Visited in 1987, 1994 and now 2020. Always delightful. The Hispanic cultural folk art and the contemporary make-you-think rooms are a good addition to the Girard collection of whimsical items.

What a fun and a bit quirky museum. It’s located on Museum Hill. There are several exhibits. When I visited there was a Japanese demon exhibit, Nordic dressings/costumes, COVID masks and the big back room full of fun miniatures from around the world. The museum store is great. Highly recommend.

Whimsical artwork from all over the world. Definitely try to do the free tour with a docent to help interpret the art (humorous and loads of facts-Judy was amazing!). Great gift shop too.

Visited on a cold Friday in late November and spent 2-1/2 hours looking at interesting items from around the world. Compulsive collecting at it's finest! Something for everyone but don't expect fine art, this is folk art. Well laid out if you use the provided guidebooks. Too many things to see in one visit. Free parking. Restaurant at this complex worth a visit after you tour the museum.

Incredible displays, a variety of cultures, beautiful craftsmanship, good lighting, and so much fun.

Unusual, large collection. Displayed imaginatively. Folk figures like Aguilar sisters great. Visited with our kids when they were young, returned with 20 somethings.

We visited again, just the other day. Focused on some temporary collections, such as one from Peru addressing both pollution, class, and the disappeared. Also enjoyed the personal collection of Judith Espinar, local Santa Fean.

This out of the way museum is a must see while in Santa Fe. Interesting folk art from around the world. I liked looking at all of the large glass pieces. The gift shop and attached restaurant are handy.

If you're not sure what sensory overload means, visit this museum and you'll instantly know what I mean. It's not a bad thing at all. The main exhibit was from the collection of Alexander Girard, a professional designer and inveterate collector of folk art from all over the world. To say his collection is extensive is the understatement of the millennium. I can't imagine any culture that isn't represented. A whole wing needed to be built to hold everything. There are other exhibits as well, and the whole experience is a good overview of folk art.

I haven't been to this museum in quite some time and I was so impressed with the craftsmanship of the figures! All kinds of settings were presented with small figurines and even small fruits and vegetables, etc. It was enchanting! I wish there was more info for each one...who did it and what it was depicting. You really want to take your time and soak it all in. The antique dolls were great too. Some were a little scary!

I highly recommend.

Fell into a docent tour of the Girard collection, which I think is really necessary to avoid overload. Amazing. Then onto the beaded collection, well described and a wide range from all over the world. love seeing native art in that light--as part of an international treasure.

Amazing collection and display can at times be overwhelming. Take your time and use the guide book. You will be entertained and enlighten.

Vast collection of international folk items and exhibits from many places in the world. . Here is an attraction the kids may be interested to see .

One of the most unique museums I’ve visited. The diversity of the exhibits was impressive. Will definitely visit again and bring guests. The staff I interacted with were kind and helpful.

If you like FOLK ART ~ please make time to visit this museum. The Girard Collection is one of a kind, it's incredible, vast, and almost overwhelming. Absolutely a wonderful museum experience. Please Please make time to go. The amount of artist and craft hours collected in that museum is VAST ~ representing cultures from al over the world. This museum is an absolute GEM in Santa Fe. GO GO GO GO

This fascinating museum proved to be of interest to our young grandchildren as well as the adults. The exhibits are well laid out, and broken down by the currently featured themes. The kids loved the crafts projects the museum provided at no additional cost.

The layout of the Museum is "easy." There are four large galleries upstairs and one small gallery downstairs. You start in the "Girard Wing," and the galleries are all connected.

In the Girard gallery, there are numbered display windows. You can pick up a booklet guide to the numbered windows. Inside the windows, there may be one piece, several, or hundreds of pieces. I went through the guidebook. There are approximately 360 numbered windows (one piece of Museum literature say there are more than 10,000 objects). That's just the Girard Gallery. We visited all the galleries, but needless to say we spent most of our time in the Girard Gallery.

The collection of Folk Art in this Museum is outstanding!

Lots of miniature doll houses and doll scenarios from all over the world. Wonderful opportunity to teach children about different customs and religions. Great gift shop.

This is an interesting museum. The permanent collection has 10,000 objects to see. There are two ways to view the permanent collection. The first way, the way the designer wanted you to see it, is without any text at all. Just the visual of all of the objects in the exhibit. The second way, the way we viewed it, is with a booklet with the text to explain all of the objects. The second way is overwhelming and yet informative. But then we ended up not having time for the other exhibits at the museum. Leave plenty of time to take in everything this museum has to offer. Very interesting!

This museum is a mixed assemblage of odd international bits and pieces - and many painted figurines. But a great gift shop. And the Indian Culture museum and the Wheelright also have great gift shops. Make sure you hit all - lots of great local artist pieces for sale as well as interesting other finds. But better off not paying for this museum. Also the hall of “Beading” seemed stuffy / musty.

The museum has a main attraction of folk art from all over the world, and a series of rotating exhibits as well. Some might find the exhibits silly, but I found them fascinating.

I was like a kid in a candy shop! I loved the collections of figurines, dolls, toys, scenes sorted by culture. They were magnificent!

Outstanding international collection of folk art. I was fortunate to be there for a docent lead tour and it tagged much to the overall experience. In almost all exhibits, the designer of them was able to interject something to elicit a laugh - something out of place, but so well placed you had to really look for the "humor" element.

Lovely gift shop with nice selection of unique gifts.

Loved this place
Young adult daughter enjoyed it too. A smoking deal at $12 admission worth every cent. Art from around the globe and a variety of mediums. Worth 2-3 hours

A truly wonderful & exciting experience - incredible Alexander Girard & Peru show. Could return many times.

Very interesting museum. Many countries represented and special Japanese exhibit was great. Nice gift and book shop.

The whole museum is the collection of one man. Some very interesting and unique pieces. Foreign pieces that you probably never see anywhere else.

First Sunday of the month is free for New Mexicans so why not come then? Took the train from Albuquerque for this visit. It’s a bit of a walk from the station but I guess you can find other ways to get there (about 2 miles from the station, just a nice distance to walk with nice weather).

The day I visited there was an exhibit on Scandinavian traditional clothing, another on Yōkai: Ghosts & Demons of Japan, as well as their permanent display: Multiple Visions: A Common Bond, folk art from around the globe. The Girard Family collection of more than 100,000 objects is unique because of its size and breadth: more than 100 countries on six continents are represented. Of this massive collection, 10,000 pieces are shown to the public.

Had a docent led visit (starts at 11am) but as time was starting to run out, decided to finish visiting on my own so I could go a little faster. There is absolutely no way to see it all in one day. I will have to come back and immerse myself in this very creative world.

Should you have time, just across the plaza from this museum is the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, also free the first Sunday of the month to New Mexicans (also open 10am-5pm). There is also a restaurant between the two museums. You can easily make a whole day of it and the view from this place is fantastic. Seeing the various surrounding mountains framed by wonderful outdoor sculptures. Beautiful.

Could have wondered around here for hours looking at all the different thing, i recommend that you pick up a guide or use the head sets otherwise you wont have a clue where anything is from (as we didn't)

I understand the pandemic has affected this event tremendously, but the fact that I paid $30 and was there 15 minutes, was ridiculous. I know it's necessary to charge a fee but considering this year was different, the price could have been also

The were parts of this museum that I enjoyed very much and could easily linger. However, there were other exhibits that I did not get much out of other than there is a lot of interesting junk here. The great thing about art is that I am sure other visitors felt the exact opposite. Worth a visit so you can make up your own mind.

I was completely overwhelmed by too much stuff. It didn't interest me, it just made me want to call in Marie Kondo or somebody. Couldn't get out fast enough.

Loved the International Folk Museum in Santa Fe. I was really impressed by the exhibits and there was so much to see. The museum grounds are also quite beautiful, and the gift shop is stellar. I would recommend stopping by to all Santa Fe visitors!

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this museum. We toured the exhibition about Telephone Wire Art from South Africa and were amazed at the detail and intricacies in the different items made with and decorated with telephone wire. We also toured the exhibition from Ukraine about the creativity and resourcefulness of the people in creating art from items of destruction. We then toured the Girard Wing where the collection of Folk Art from all over the world was beautiful and overwhelming. I can't wait to visit again on my next trip to Santa Fe.

The permanent collection is wonderful, and the Japanese exhibit was the icing on the cake! Beautifully curated and very informative.

Like Tinkertown on steroids.

A fellow gathered what must be the largest collection anywhere of figurines from around the world and they're all displayed in kind of miniature dioramas, largely based on the countries from which they came. A great way to learn about other cultures,

Wear good shoes. You could spend hours and not see everything.

The only knock on the place is the quality of explanations. Exhibits are numbered. You take a guide with you that describes what you see at a particular number. But there's more information for some exhibits than for others and the layout of the museum doesn't really correspond to the numbers in the guide. You do a lot of flipping around to find the right page.

We really enjoyed this museum. The Afghanistan war rugs were really interesting. I think this is a traveling exhibit. The whole museum is very very interesting and represents different regions of the world. This is a must do. It costs $12 to enter.

Any one of the museums on Museum Hill is a recommended destination. You can spend a whole day at any single museum, so maybe plan a few days in a row at each of the destinations on Museum Hill. Museum Hill is our favorite tourist destination in all of Santa Fe! Go and learn and enjoy!

I spend several hours taking pictures and soaking in the colors and textures. Then I did some Christmas shopping in the outstanding gift shop.

The museum is full of a variety of folk arts from around the world. Everywhere you look, you will see something, whether it is on a table, in a case, on the wall, or hanging from above. A spiral bound book can be used during your visit containing information about each item/collection of items. Labels by the artwork reference numbers in the booklet. Be sure to return the booklet before you leave!

This collection in quite large, separated out into different rooms for a category. Rotating exhibits are also featured. You need to allow 3-4 hours if you want to see everything, and read every description.

Clean restroom, water fountains, and gift shops can be found, along with benches for a brief rest. Our only complaint was how warm it was inside on a mild 72 degree day.

Looking for various things to do for our 2nd trip to Santa Fe. The volume of art is enormous, many in dioramas is impressive. I downloaded the manual from the website or it’s difficult to know what each display means. You can easily spend hours here if you examine each one. I would recommend it as it is very interesting.

It's up on Museum Hill in Santa Fe - probably you will need to drive. Folk art from many world cultures is arranged in attractive ways, sometimes by country/area and sometimes by theme, like the "alter" or the "hearth." It's colorful and sometimes spiritual. I think the whole family will find things to enjoy. Put it high on your list for a visit to Santa Fe.

the international very large collection of miniatures is amazing. we could stay even days in this room.

This is a collection of folk art from all over the world, presented in very interesting ways, to almost tell stories. It is the most mind blowing collection I have ever seena nd apparetly, there are hundreds of thousands more pieces in the basement. Don't miss this one when you're in Santa Fe.

I love folk art. This museum is so beautifully put together. I could have spent the entire day! Be sure to borrow the guide book at the main gallery entrance and use it to learn and read about the art.

We have been many times so dont come back too often. A local artist friend of ours recommended the Hokai exhibit. She was right on! Including a haunted room! And big bonus - the NM music exhibit informs one about M history and culture thru music. Well curated, great stuff. Give it a try!

This museum is a wonderful, diverse, and light-heated huge collection of art from around the world - a nice break from the other museums in the area that (appropriately) focus on Indians and nuclear war. Be prepared to do a lot of walking and spend at least two hours to see everything.

A wonderful museum -- worth visiting! The exhibits are professionally done, of course. As part of a visit to museum hill, it's not to be missed.

If you're remotely interested in art and especially in folk art then this fantastic museum must be on your list. The collection is absolutely amazing and beautifully displayed. Spend a half-day...it takes that amount of time just to peruse everything. Fantastic place.

A huge collection of folk art from all over the world. Very nicely displayed. Allow at least two hours to see the entire collection.

I didn’t have enough time to fully take in all of the exhibits but what I did see was well worth the visit. I only had 2 hours for a brisk walk through and enough time to examine things that were of specific interest to me (puppets). I plan to go back!

After visiting phenomenal Museum of Indian Art and Culture we went to the Museum of International Folk Art across the Museum Hill plaza, but its collection wasn’t something we were keenly interested in.

What was interesting is that the gift of just one successful married couple, Alexander and Susan Girard, had quintupled the size of the collection
They began collecting folk art in the 1930s when they traveled to Mexico and returned with a variety of art and objects for their home. That was the beginning of the largest collection of cross-cultural folk art in the world.

In 1978, the Girards made a generous gift of over 100,000 objects to the State of New Mexico.

An interesting and unique museum. A great collection of crafts and homespun art. Also a room of over a 100 dioramas. A cool way to spend the afternoon.

There is so much more to "what is art". Cultures around the world create wonderful embroidery and woven pieces as well as carved masks, ceramics,hammered metal works, basketry as well as clay or wood figures. The works are colorful, playful and dynamic. They spark the viewer's imagination and transport you to far away cultures. This is a great musuem for kids of all ages. Once again, if you belong to a local museum that is part of the museum reciprocal network, you will get in for free. This museum is on Museum Hill. It's a 10 minute drive from historic Santa Fe.

Wonderful collection of folk art from around the world. Wonderfully displayed. Very colorful. Delightful.

The only entertaining/interesting part is the area with all the dolls/figurines/dioramas. Luckily this is a huge area, and well curated with lots of beautiful stuff from around the world. Take your time and enjoy all the little details. Definitely worth going just for that. It is located up on a hill, outside the city, which has lovely views and surrounded by beautiful landscape.

Incredible collection of historical and contemporary folk art. Check this place out while in Santa Fe!

Most fun I have EVER HAD in a museum! Dioramas, dolls, wall hangings, clothing, textiles from all over the world are mixed together in the Girard exhibit. I didn't take the tour but I heard the docent say Mr. Girard set up the gallery and he was interested in visual impact not information. There is information available in a separate booklet you give back when you're done with the gallery. I couldn't stop smiling and taking pictures.

this museum is a must for visitors. It has such a fascinating collection of folk art and the changing shows are always interesting.

A huge display of intricate to large hand made human and animal statues from around the world. So much more.

We attended the opening of Alexander Girard's design exhibit with a lecture hosted by the curator and Girard's family. It was particularly well done and summed up the museum for us as the Girard family left their huge and in-depth collection of folk art to the museum. The exhibit of his designs paired with the absolutely mind boggling Girard folk art wing was such a highlight of our trip-so very highly recommended!

I had planned to spend an entire afternoon visiting all the museums on museum hill. I started with the Museum of International Folk Art. I had not read about this museum and was not quite sure what to expect. I was so fascinated with all of the exhibits and displays that I never made it to any of the other museums on the hill! The 10,000+ items in the Alexander Girard long-term exhibit was absolutely amazing. It fascinated me a great deal in that someone can spend their life collecting these folk art items and then donate them for a long-term loan to the museum. I later read these items have been on display for nearly 40 years!

I also really enjoyed Girard’s fabric designs for office furniture manufacture Herman Miller and his original deign work for Braniff International airlines! Really wonderful exhibits and well worth the nearly 4 hours of my visit!

This lovely structure is one of at least two museums on what is known as Museum Hill in Santa Fe. It houses a fabulous permanent collection, including the Gerard Wing, crown ntributed by renowned designer William Gerard and his wife. Children of all ages will enjoy the doll houses, trains, innumerable "village" constructions from all over the world, textiles, carvings, pottery figures, etc., etc., etc.

During my most recent visit there was also a mind-boggling display of beadwork from all over the world sponsored by Neutrogena.

Everything in the museum is the best of the best. It is easily accessible for people of all ages, even those with mobility issues. Non-flash photography is encouraged.

We had a wonderful lunch at the restaurant just a few steps away from the Folk Art Museum.

I cannot recommend this place too highly!

I loved the different displays stopping to admire each one as I walked along. Disappointed that the Hispanic section was temporarily closed during my visit.

We bought the Culture Pass and this museum was on the list in Santa Fe. I'm not really sure how they could have curated the room that had works of art from many regions/cultures on display, but it was very hectic and created sensory overload. We had one of the booklets to help guide you through the gallery, but it also fell short in establishing a timeline or overarching narrative to the objects on display. If I were to rate it just on the large gallery, I would give the museum 3 stars. However, the special exhibit of wire art from South Africa was amazing! The gallery that it was in had beautiful weavings and informative videos as to how the skill is learned and practiced. It was worth the time to just soak it all in and learn about those who do this intricate weaving. This exhibit was worth 5 stars!!!

This museum of folk art was a surprise. It’s full of interesting pieces from around the world. I think children will enjoy it, too, because there are so many figures from different cultures often part of a ‘diorama’ the artist has made. Go if you get a chance. We also ate lunch (very good) on Museum Hill and visited the Spanish Colonial Museum, which is great, too.

This is a great museum in Santa Fe! Amazing collection of folk art and other exhibits were very interesting. Plan to spend a few hours here because there is a LOT to see. Very informative. Pick up the guide book while viewing as it lists additional information about works of art (easy to find with numbering system). A must see for anyone who enjoys folk art.

Incredible collection of Folk Art from around the world, with some other rooms dedicated to other forms of folk art. Plan on spending at least 2 hours here, maybe more.

Always fun and informative. Allow plenty of time if first visit. Special exhibit educational and a learning experience.

Unique and interesting. Definitely broaden your perspective on world art and culture. My son (3yo) had a good time too as folk art tends to be descriptive of life. He also had a blast working on the treasure hunt.

This museum requires more than one visit as there are thousands of objects to take in. So colorful and interesting, but either spend a lot of time or go back.

This is a fun place to wander around in. I was amazed by all the displays. There isn’t much in the way of labels or information on what you are looking at, so the audio tour may be helpful if you want explanations. Go down to the “vault” as there were some fun activities there.

This was a great way to spend an afternoon. We were hereover the Thanksgiving weekend with our 8 yr old Grandson. It was an inside day for Us, very cold. This weekend was good to go! Local artists were showing their work and we had good fortune to meet and discuss! having a GPS is most helpful for finding the Museum. Well worth the trip!

A group of us went to the museum to have a look at the folk art. I had no idea what to expect when we got there, but really enjoyed the displays, and the minute detail of the items in the displays.
It was amazing, and well worth the visit

I love this museum! As a NM Museum Foundation member I go here several times a year to see all the rotating exhibitions and have revisited the permanent collection many times always seeing something I missed before.

Really great museum that you can spend hours in checking stuff out. The Girard wing with all the folk art and displays is a personal favorite.

Fascinating city different from others - museums and restaurants superb. Would visit again and again. Missed a few places

Thousands of dioramas (miniatures) from all over the world. The museum owns 10X more of these (over 100,000!) than they can display at once so they rotate them. Unlike many less-interesting museums that prohibit photography, this museum actually ENCOURAGES it! An amazing way to spend an afternoon.

There are several different parts of this museum. The most interesting tend to be the special exhibits, which are well presented and well curated. The largest part of the museum is the Girard collection, which is interesting both for the collections (varied, colorful) and for the connoisseurship, which is pertinent and relevant in understanding the influences on the designer Alexander Girard).

I was disappointed as I was expecting more of an intellectional approach to this rather than what was displaid. No real explanation of the exhibts.

Took less than an hour to get through but jam-packed with collection from around the world, particularly focused on Latin America. Unlike any museum I've been to. Missed the docent-led tour which is only once a day but saved time for the gift shop.

Very informative and would advise everyone to go. One of the top five places to visit in Santa Fe. 1!

It is difficult to explain everything you feel when you walk in, but a great appreciation for the time it took to put this collection together is certainly one of them.
Lots of wow factors throughout the museum! A MUST DO on your list!

Would recommend this museum to adults. There is some children areas but the majority of things to do is for history enthusiasts (And That May be children depending).

There is also a great cafe on the property.

Museum Hill: lucky the city that has such a collection of terrific museums, in a spectacular location, with a lovely cafe tucked in. Best of all is the Museum of International Folk Art: be prepared to devote hours to this fascinating collection from around the world. I won't try to describe it: just unique.

Nice collection of well displayed folk art from all over the world. We went today while they had a free day. My only wish is that they gave you more in writing than a generalized brief statement about each grouping in a display. I was hungry for more in depth information.

When I travel, I like to collect folk art from other countries. Walking into this extensive museum, I was on sensory overload from all of the colors in the collection! Each display was beautiful, and some were very large. Nice representation from all parts of the world. I especially liked the nativity scenes and anything that related to our own Native American culture. So many dolls and dioramas...

This extraordinary museum located close to 3 other museums in a beautiful location was truly one of a kind. It was not what I expected in terms of folk art because the collector/benefactor arranged all the exhibits, sometimes mixing different cultural artifacts. It was absolutely wonderful and had plenty of ways to understand what you are seeing. I highly recommend getting the free audio tour of the main exhibit. It was also helpful to carry the spiral book for much additional information. It was also fun to see if I could correctly identify the source before reading about it. We were so enthralled that we spent 3 hours there. I would go back as there is so much to take in. Don’t miss the Treasure Chest in the basement.

Did not have high Hope's for this place and ended up spending 2 hours and could have stayed another 2. Thousands of pieces of folk art from all over the world. The special exhibits were pretty interesting also. Go see it.

A really great museum that is worth checking out. Right next to the Indian museum with a beautiful court yard in between. A must visit when in Santa Fe

We happened to arrive just as a docent tour started and were so glad we joined in with her small group as she was much knowledge and perspective to add. This is a fun museum, one you could visit many times as there is simply so much to see. It makes you laugh. My husband found it a very well done museum, although he didn't enjoy the miniatures as much as I did. The special bead exhibit is fascinating and informative. Beautiful location. Only wish we had time to visit some of the other museums on the hill

This is an amazing museum filled with folk art from around the world. The exhibits are incredible, lots of colour and so many things to look at. It is certainly different from all the other museums I have been to and well worth the tour.

When we visited this museum, we thought we would see how different cultures depicted their way of life through art. However, this was a bunch of collections from one family that was displayed prominently throughout the exhibit. While it was cool to see how they could display the "dolls" and such, it didn't "wow" us.

Visited on a Wednesday morning and joined a docent guided tour. Very impressive and informative! Alexander Girard collections, Peruvian exhibit and “beaded” display were all fantastic!

We go there with one hour it spare and told it would take hours to see - they charged us 40 dollars gave us an extension to return the next day. The actual museum consisted of a bead section, a load of miniature things and a Peruvian display plus a basement of dross items. We saw it in under 20 minutes. To add salt to the wounds, other visitors we saw had been charged nothing. Sorry to be so negative but this museum was seriously dreadful.

One of my favorite museums ever. I went to this museum to experience Girard's collection of folk art, but found some of the other exhibits captivating. On my visit there was an exhibit on Japanese ghost spirits. It was so interesting and visually so well done. I also enjoyed a temporary exhibit on Scandinavian traditional dress. As a bonus, the gift shops were well stocked with treasures from around the world. I definitely think it's worth a visit.

Especially the beadwork from the Lakota Indians! The whole museum is quite interesting with artisans from all over the world.

After visiting a billion art galleries and museums in 4 days I was not expecting to be impressed, but this place is a jewel! In some exhibits art from many different countries were grouped by media, making it easy to compare how different cultures can interpret the same materials.
It is delightful to see "low brow" displayed with respect.

The collection at MoIFA is one of the most unusual we have ever seen. The core of the collection came from Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Girard, he a world famous designer of textiles and interior design. We were not aware that they collected over 100,000 items of folk art during their travels, work and life around the world. These include all types of art and materials, such a Mexican Day of the Dead items, amulets, textiles, and toys from many cultures. The collection appears to be curated by similarity of items , rather than by culture or chronology. There are so many items it is almost overwhelming. If you are looking for a unique experience on a visit to Santa Fe, this is a must stop.

My sister and I enjoyed our visit. The various exhibitions were well-curated with adequate background information provided. And Museum Hill is worth the quick trip out of town.

You will have the opportunity to see examples of traditional folk art from around the world and see how they really are connected to each other.

We wandered in without a lot of expectations and discovered a fascinating set of very unusual exhibits presented in a very original way. A way to see the world afresh. The docent tour (10:30 and 11:30, at least at this time of year) is what puts it all together is not to be missed. Lunch at the excellent cafe adjacent to the museum makes fo a perfect day.

WOW was this museum interesting. There were different art/crafts from around the world in this museum. It was loaded with things to see. The gift shop was nice also. The grounds this museum is on are beautiful. It is located amoung 3 other museums. It is a great day trip.

A lot of interesting items from around the world. Most of it fairly 'new', less than a century old. A few galleries closed to rotate in new exhibits which will be great for future visitors. Would have loved to see the demons if Japan exhibit

There were SO MANY things to look at - and such a variety of cultural artifacts. Be sure to allow lots of time to see everything... and find the museum cafe for a bite to eat, too. Yum.

A very unique museum. There is a lot to see. Many exhibits from many countries. Something for everyone.

There are so many items from so many places in this museum that it is hard to describe them all. Definitely worth checking out.

This is about the 3rd time we have visited this museum in the span of 15 years, and it continues to be enchanting. I do wish they would change it up a bit, though. Once, many years ago, we saw a display of ingenious articles made from found objects. I would love to see something like this again.

The International Folk Museum is amazing! I loved all the miniatures, dolls, and puppets from all the different countries. I just marveled at the tiny details. There was a miniature bullfight scene and it was so intricate. Another scene I loved was a religious procession from a church and a kitchen in a Mexican Hacienda. Just a million little details. My husband and I spent two hours looking at just this wing of the museum. I would love to return someday to see the other parts of the museum.

Davis Mather, a connoisseur of folk art, recommended we go to the museum and see the Gerard Gallery. The Gerard’s donated over 110,000 pieces to the museum, 10% are on display. Anything considered folk art is on display. Some of the pieces are fabulous and some not so much. The museum is a most see

What a treat to be able to see the beadwork exhibit. And the giant plastic bag hat from Peru! I always enjoy seeing the miniature displays of the many cultures. The gift shop was as much a museum as the exhibits. It was nice to see the school children in hands on programs while visiting. I was very pleased to have been visiting on Wednesday, when they have free admission for New Mexico residents.

I’ve always loved this place and am a member but we were spoken to so rudely today that I question bringing guests here. The ship was closed for inventory and a worker was coming out of the shop and we were talking with her as she exited. Another woman came out and said she “needed her employee back and for us to stop bothering her”. Hoping she was just stressed but I hate introducing guests to that type hospitality.

We loved this museum and found the exhibits to be colorful and lively. They had a scavenger hunt for the kids. I would highly recommend.

Not huge, but if you enjoy gigantic dioramas that are a cross between a dollhouse and circus on acid, you'll be fascinated. (That isn't meant to be damming with faint praise - you truly can spend quite awhile just looking at the details). There is also a Japanese ghost exhibit (I've forgotten the genre's proper name) whch is interesting and worth spending some time in both an appreciative and educatinal sense. The native people's exhibit will probably be very interesting to some for me it was mostly visual; I'm from back East, and I don't always 'get' it beyond looking. Recommended. As for parking - I ended up (waze) in the staff lot - which I think was a better soluntion than the main lot which is rather further off the plaza - there are three museums (4?) on th hill and a cafe.

I had the culture pass so got in free and was already at museum hill so decided to check it out. It was worth strolling through because it was free but not sure I’d pay more than $5 to go here unless you’re really into folk art

This is one of the best museums that I have ever visited. It is chock full of folk art from various time periods and cultures -- all of excellent quality, The signage creates an even richer experience, The gift shop has wonderful merchandise that is reasonably priced,

This was amazing. We spend 2 hours in the museum with our kids and every turn was a feast for the senses. I can't wait to go again. The gift shop was also a treat!

We spent a wonderful two hours viewing and taking photos of the amazing exhibits at the Museum of International Folk Art - the world’s largest collection of folk art. The amazing collection of 150,000 items from over 150 countries across the world is perfect for both adults and children. The sheer volume of art can be overwhelming but if you take your time and refer to the guidebook on the website it’s manageable. Our favorites are the masks and the dioramas which are truly impressive.

An antique dealer on Canyon Rd. recommended a visit to this museum and we enjoyed the great variety of objects de' Arte. We normally view paintings but these things were in all media.

I have to start by saying that I only went into one gallery of the four. (one was closed). The Girard gallery contains Mr Girard’s personal collection, which is stuff of almost every sort he picked up in his travels around the world. Some of the stuff is grouped by type and some by country of origin. Some is interesting and some is not. Overall, it gave the impression of an expensive secondhand toy store. I just found it chaotic. I have to say that children might find it more interesting than I did, because it was very colorful and contained many objects they would be familiar with.

A Santa Fe couple collected small items from around the world. This museum houses that collection, and it is very well displayed. There are items from Poland, Columbia and Japan, and everywhere else in-between. You will probably also see something you (or your grandmother) have in your house.

This would have been such a great museum if it had better interpretation. We found a brochure that had the number combinations of each exhibit and you were supposed to be able to find the numbers to reference the art, but we found the number combinations were duplicated, so we had no idea which part of the brochure to find that particular artwork in. And if it we did find it, it was very short and had very little actual information on it. What did the artwork symbolize? Why did the people who made it, make it? Very disappointing.

Have visited this museum several times and always enjoy it. The Alexander Girard collection is the best I have every seen anywhere. Don't miss the museum shop. There's also a very nice cafe right across the courtyard.

Will Return,, fantastic and will go back next time in town... highly recommend and the exhibits will turn on the senses!!

This was our second visit--which is actually two separate museums. The layout, exhibitions and explanations rival the Herd Museum in Phoenix. A must-visit.

A very cool museum filled with interesting art. Also, very informative with their special exhibits. Worth the trip and located in a great spot with other museums.

Really enjoyed this museum, like folkloric art any way, has quite a display from all over the world, am enjoying the pictures of it now.

This museum defines folk art as what many would call toys, collectables, or even kitsch. They had a nice display of fine beadwork from around the world, but otherwise this is not a display of handicrafts like quilting, embroidery, or other folk crafts. The display is of things people made for fun, to play with, or to show off their woodworking or other ability. Many, many toys made by hand. Many, many dioramas portraying village life, festivals, religious themes, and so on.

That said, it was fun. My wife enjoyed it especially, and I would recommend it, although I would suggest that you place a higher priority on the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, the Georgia O'Keefe Museum, and others.

Visited in early April. I love folk art and had high expectations, but spent less than an hour here. It seemed like large portions of the permanent collection (including the entire lower level) were closed, a fact not indicated on their website. The one permanent exhibition that was open — Multiple Visions— was frankly mystifying. More like a random collection of someone’s tchotchkes than a curated folk art collection, various miniatures and dioramas with no clear context. Two of the temporary exhibits — one on Japanese Yokai and one on Mexican cartoneria — were interesting but so small that they did not warrant a visit.

Amazing! Their permanent collection of toys and dioramas was so enjoyable. Our kids loved it. Would definitely recommend to families.

This museum is interesting to say the least. Unfortunately, they were doing some construction for new exhibits so it was not fully open to view, but of what we saw we enjoyed. Of course with a lot on the museum’s staff’s minds, small things get overlooked (some of the pieces in the large wing weren’t lit because their lights were out, etc). Would recommend for families with younger kids (maybe 7-15) because there’s a whole lot of stuff to see.

This museum features folk art from around the world, all displayed invitingly in bright rooms. For young children, a bonus is a hands-on area with hand puppets and other active-play items. The gift shop also has plenty of decently-priced treasures.

If you love design, and in particular folk art, do not miss this extraordinary museum. Well laid out with rooms of different interest. The miniatures room goes on for miles. Nice gift shop.

We wished we had set aside a whole day for this. We only got to explore one wing before we had to leave for home. It's such a delight, we left feeling like happy little kids.

Really amazing.. give it a good half a day to admire the art... this is exclusively for art lovers only though ... the intricate structures and models just amazed me ..my 10 yr old just loved hanging there taking pictures...

Everyone who visits Santa Fe has got to visit this "one of a kind" museum. I've traveled around the world and still think this "gem" is a treasure for all to see, whether tourist or local. The gift shops are fun, fun, fun, too.

There was so much to see and we were sad we didn't have enough time to see it all. Give yourself more than 2 hours to fully enjoy the exhibits. I will definitely be back!!!
Lots of free parking and a great restaurant in the complex. There's an elevator that assists to move people from the parking level up to the museum level.

Loved this place. From the miniatures, to the Japanese demon exhibit, it was great fun. Terrific music section as well. Interesting, quirky place. Well worth the visit.

Wonderful exhibitions featuring art created by regular folks, mostly. It is amazing what people around the world come up with. Many of the showcases are a nice reminder that, no matter our political differences, we all experience the basics of the lifecycle in the same way. The intricacies of much of the work are just incredible. Fun on a grand scale.

We were disappointed that the largest gallery consisted of a collection of miniature figures, mostly commercially available, arranged in dioramas. In many cases, the displays were not historically or culturally accurate as well as not being appropriately proportionate. If I had understood that much of the "folk art" on display would consist of the types of items my older relatives purchased through the years and displayed in their homes, I would have spent my time elsewhere.

In another gallery of "folk attire", the commentary on Norwegian National Romanticism and the Sami people was so heavy-handed that this exhibit was ruined for me.

We spent two hours in the museum - in retrospect, I wish we had cut the visit short.

A very impressive building a bit off the main drag. Filled with minitures. I wasn’t sure what to expect and was bored which is unusual for me in a museum. I rated it as average because it certainly isn’t for everyone, but some may like it.

´Tis a glorious Autumn day with abundant sun and mid- sixties temperatures.

Entry to Museum of International Folk Art is included visit with New Mexico Culture Pass.

This is an interesting museum, and the gift shop merits a visit.

The standing exhibit here is one that I enjoy every visit, but the latest temporary one, 'The Mexican Art of Paper and Paste', is worth a visit just for itself. Along with colorful examples of how Mexican artists use these, there are videos of celebrations at which they're used. Pinatas, masks, fireworks, parade floats, all in the most joyous, exuberant colors!

Lots of stuff with somewhat confusing if unhelpful interpretive information. The numbering system for each exhibit was kind of confusing, and oftentimes I found myself referencing it, only to come away still at a loss for what I was really looking at. I think a lot of pieces would benefit from more information on their background rather than who “discovered” them.

We didn't know what to expect from this Museum, but it was fascinating, with art and artifacts from all over the world. Definitely worth a visit.

This museum contains huge collections of folk art that are fascinating for young and old. The dioramas of miniature towns and settings are unbelieveable works that depict early Spanish community scenes. This is a must-see in Santa Fe. Follow your tour with lunch at the Museum Hill Cafe.

We've been visiting here since 1982 - always worth our time, always wish we had more time to learn more about the richness of folk art.

There is so much to see at the Museum of International Folk Art. My husband and I took our company there after having lunch in the Museum Hill Cafe. In recent years having traveled to several countries, my appreciation for folk art has expanded. There was so much to see that I plan to go back and take a section per afternoon. It is well organized too.

Many of the reviews of this museum are extremely positive. While I found the subject matter interesting I do not think this should be at the top of your Santa Fe to do list. The beadwork exhibit was interesting and the displays were beautiful. There was a multitude of tiny figures that were part of an overall theme whether it be Christmas circus winter etc. There were trains bicycles masks and skeletons. There was not enough difference in the displays to hold my interest for very long.

We're from NYC so have a high bar when it comes to museums. Must say that the Intl. Museum of Folk Art is the most enjoyable museum I've ever visited. so unique and whimsical. Up on Museum Hill and reachable by free shuttle bus, the Museum is spacious, modern and well curated. We were lucky enough to see the Girard exhibit which showcased the designer's amazing collection of miniatures. You just have to see it to believe the detail and breadth of this exhibition. Bought a few nice souvenirs from the gift shop afterward which offers some unique things from all over the world. Expect to pay $14 pp for nonresidents, well worth it for a 2+ hour visit. Fabulous place!

The main exhibit is terrific - multiple collections of miniature, houses, people, food, animals and more. The so-called "special" exhibits are always sub-standard, pretentious and totally worthless. Staff are arrogant as well, but the gift shop is great. Worth one visit only - and good for young girls!

This is a wonderful museum with a terrific gift shop. Part of the museum is one mans private collection while the other sections always have interesting crafts from other countries to view. Do not miss this terrific museum on museum hill in Santa FE.

What an absolutely incredible experience. We went not knowing anything about the museum and were we blown away. Take your time & appreciate the art & beauty of this incredible experience!!! We will be back💖

Visited with my adult daughters, both of whom having been here before. But my first visit. Loved how the folk art items were grouped and displayed. Girard is an amazing man. Spent two hours, only got through the folk art collection and the Girard display, but was museumed out so did not see the other two exhibits.

An amazing collection of items from different cultures. In particular the collection of toys and the way it is presented

Very pleasant patio dining. The food was delicious and the service was good, not excellent. The lunch menu offered a wide range of choices - highly recommend the chicken bowl.

Great museum, so much to see! Great staff - I bought a ticket online, and only had a screen shot on my phone that said "thank you-receipt," as my email with barcode was not pulling up. The kind woman still let me in, without having to pay twice :)

TIP: plan to go during a free TOUR at 10:30 (they only offered one a day). I went at noon, and really wished I had a tour for the Girard wing! There is just so much to see and read about (they have a spiral book you walk around with), it can be overwhelming, and I'm sure I missed a ton as I walked in circles getting a bit lost. I did really enjoy the South African telephone wire basket weaving exhibit (with videos), and the Mexican history/art wing was super fun and colorful too. Appreciated the art of Ukraine, it was a smaller but well put together exhibit of turning loss and grief into soulful art. Not much time left to take in all the prisoner art, but enjoyed what I saw rather quickly - very interesting!

DO THE TOUR if you can - the whole museum will probably be even more enjoyable. Wish I had planned better! Great deal at $12, a nice way to spend half a day, and the gift shops have beautiful global crafts/jewelry/artwork/souveniers/clothing (if a bit pricey). Overall, loved it and worth a visit!

This place was a cornucopia of intrigue and a joyful expression of art! Plan to spend 2 to 4 hours here depending on your interest level in folk art. They have four galleries set up similar to a cross layout but our favorite was the Neutrogena gallery with thousands of folk objects, most set up as dioramas but bigger. This was a hidden gem and we walked around that one gallery taking in each display, each more fantastic than the last. One corner had El Dia de Los Muertos figurines. If you like quirky and bizarre, then this is the place for you. Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple or with family, everyone will find something they like here. There was an interactive children’s play area and really nice gift shop as well.

I like folk art and wanted to see what this museum had. Much of their collection is derived from one collector. There was a strong focus on human figurines (dolls, carvings, sculptures). It was a lot to take in. I took the Santa Fe free shuttle to get there, which was nice, but then it snowed and I had to take a Lyft back because I didn't want to wait forever for it to loop back. I appreciated the city has this free shuttle but it doesn't really have a schedule.

My name is Sarah Field and I am Bill Field‘s daughter. Bill Field was very involved in the arts in Santa Fe, and he would be horrified by the state of matters both at the Spanish Colonial Arts society museum, as well as the international folk market store. This store opened up a few years back and literally… EVERY time I have been in town, it has been closed. Today it was finally open and after at least 20 times of trying to visit, I was turned away. I was told that there was some kind of a meeting. The point is, the people can’t access the Folk art because of poor management, Also, Spanish, colonial arts society museum seems to be dying now that he has passed. It’s only open a few days a week for a few hours? How does that serve the people of New Mexico? That is an absolute travesty. Both he and his mother before him, Lois Field, invested their entire heart and life into preserving the tradition of Spanish colonial art, and now that he has passed, not only is the museum never open, but the Folk Art gift store isn’t either. Come on people, let’s get it together.

On Museum Hill, near the botanical gardens and the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, the Museum of International Folk Art is well worth your time. The museum features, among other interesting displays, the amazing collection of Alexander H Girard, who traveled the world collecting artifacts and indigenous arts and crafts, especially baskets from around the world.

The place was crazy. I could not believe the amount of tiny detailed stuff they had there. The tour guide quoted a figure of 100,000 pieces that one person had donated to the museum. They took a small percentage of the pieces and the person who donated them was allow to build a complete room out with countless little scenes of life in New Mexico. A person could spend a couple of days in that one room alone.

It was a wonderful exhibit and only one of many at that museum!

I only allowed three hours to visit this large museum on Museum Hill. I could have stayed all day and still not seen it all. I liked the big room with the collection of one particular gentleman. What an eclectic vision that man had. The rotating exhibits on the lower level were unusual and informative. The gift shop was the best of any I have seen in a museum setting.

We had lunch in the Cafe....exceptional!
We visited the Gift Shop....exceptional!
Adore my pocketbook....jewelry.

We visited this museum on a whim. We really drove up to see the view and ended up checking out this museum. What a great museum! It had folk art from all over the world as well as little villages of art. The guide book was very informative and was very easy to use. The Alexander Gerard works we’re amazing! My 13 year old loved this exhibit! The textiles and furniture were her favorite. At the end of the museum there was a portion dedicated to community art and it was a great ending to a great museum. They also had wonderful gift shops! The price was VERY reasonable and children under 16 are free. The views from the hill were beautiful as well as the statues outside. Very glad we stumbled upon this gem!

I Love Folk art and was very excited that we were able to see this museum while visiting Santa Fe during the Christmas holidays. There were several exhibits from around the world including Sweden & Japan as well as a provocative exhibit on mask wearing. There were several exhibits to see so plan on at least 2.5 hours or more. Masks are required and they do have a coat room but it's not monitored so beware.
I had no idea about the Norway, Scandinavian art depicting social and political unrest. AND they make art with human hair!! It's a thing!
The mask/pandemic exhibit was one of my favorites. I highly recommend going.

Very interesting and unique folk art museum due to its international collection. They had one exhibit with objects from a single collector which was fascinating. We enjoyed our visit there and some of the exhibits stay with you after. A few parts of the museum were closed for renovation/installation but what we saw we very much enjoyed. It took between 1-2 hours to see it comfortably.

Hundreds of thousands of pieces are displayed in well lighted and glass enclosed cases.

It was overwhelming by sheer magnitude of items.

Explanations of items chosen to display and grouping of those items thousands of items were minimal.

The educational aspect from booklet and display cases was underwhelming.

The permanent exhibit of miniature scenarios from all over is interesting. I also liked the special exhibits. One was about Northern New Mexico musical traditions and celebrations. Another was about Japanese ghosts and monster figures from the past and present.

Folk Art ? Not really my thing. But, they had additional exhibits which made the museum worth the visit.

We expected quilts and pottery and instead walked into a large room of dioramas, of many different cultures. It was so dramatic it was almost creepy--placements of peoples and buildings in each case documenting moments in time..astounding amount of detail in each. A wonderful teaching tool for local educators.

Fabulous collection of miniatures with complex scenarios and staging. Literally hundreds of thousands of beautiful items,artfully displayed. It’s a wonder to contemplate and even more so by the sheer size and scope of the collection.

we weren't planning to stop in, but friends said we had to go....and we 're so glad we did! the variety of objects collected from countries all around the world is mind-blowing! you have to use their guidebook as you view the displays, as they provide valuable back ground info on their age and origin. the backstory on Alexander Girard and his career as a designer and collector was also very interesting

The temporary exhibit on beads around the world is there until February 3. It begins with beaded items for infants and progresses through life stages to beaded grave ornaments. A truly exquisite installation!! We also learned much about discrimination toward Native peoples in Peru. Our time was short so we didn't visit the permanent exhibits this time. There is a new children's area with costumes, books, and toys. Plan on eating before or after your visit as the outdoor restaurant is not available during the winter. Awesome gift shops, too. Free parking.

An astonishingly large collection of folk art items from around the world. You won't see anywhere near everyone in a single visit. There is a permanent section and then also some smaller changing exhibits. There is a docent tour (perhaps only one a day, not sure about that). The museum is on "museum hill." If you go, take time to enjoy the vistas from the hill. If you're hungry, the Museum Hill Cafe nearby is convenient, pleasant and good

The beading exhibit was fascinating. We always enjoy the Girard Collection. Be sure to pick up the tour book at the entry desk if you'd like to know more about each display. The gift shops are wonderful.

This is one of the best museums I’ve ever been to- on par in terms of jackdaw collections with places like the Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver, BC, and the British Museum. The Alexander Girard room was one of the most hypnotic and gorgeous collections- amazingly, perfectly displayed- that I have ever seen. I could have spent weeks wandering around inside just that space.

I'm not a huge art fan, but even I could appreciate the wealth and breadth of the folk art collection - would have liked to see more things from African regions, but the collection is still expansive, with a variety of modes (sculptures, miniatures, tapestries, masks, paintings). When I visited, there was an exhibit on Japanese ghosts and ghouls, which was wonderful.

Worth the time, and one of the NM museums on the Culture Pass ($30 once off, allowing you into several museums and historical sites across NM once in a year - if you see three or more you've already saved a lot of money).

This museum offered a wide range of Folk Art, but I didn't find it exciting. Some displays more interesting than others. But art is often a matter of personal taste, this just didn't 'wow' me. No doubt others may enjoy it more.

This museum features a beautiful campus, and the content and curation are just amazing. The permanent collection alone is worth the visit, but there were 3 other wonderful exhibitions there when we visited, focusing on prison art, art from war torn Ukraine, and Mexican paper art. We spent several hours there and could easily go back and spend several more. There is just so much to see.

Fantastic museum; so much to see that our one hour there was entirely insufficient. Would love to come back.

This is well worth visiting, good for all ages.
I was amazed by the collection from diverse cultures.

Girard's interest in folk art began at the age of three when his grandfather gave him a nativity scene. By the end of his life, he'd collected more than 100,000 pieces, 10,000 of which are displayed per his specifications (though if you visit Lloyd's Treasure Chest in the basement, you can peruse the other collections via computer). As the displays have numbers rather than labels (though an accompanying booklet matches a number to an item name, a place of origin and a date), it was somewhat overwhelming. The docent tour helped tremendously. Pat took us through the permanent collection in the Girard wing (where the exhibits never change) and briefly into the Neutrogena wing. Then we were on our own, but the context she provided was invaluable.

This museum has a ton of things to see. And our favorite area is the dioramas collected from all over the world--depicting festivals and celebrations, all on a tiny scale. Allow a couple of hours to wander through this wonderful place.

A must see when in Santa Fe. Part of the Museum Hill collection.
Unbelievable artwork not found anywhere else.

We love this museum. They have a great scavenger hunt for children that make discovering all the parts of the Girard area a joy. Its very clean, easy to navigate and full of wonderful exhibits that you won't see anywhere else. For us its a must-do in Santa Fe.

I will say this museum is very interesting. I really did not know what to expect. It kept my attention through out the building. Kids will really appreciate it since most of the exhibits are toys. There are exhibits from all over the world to view. It is a good place to be when it is raining.

This museum is on Museum Hill, and interesting drive all by itself. Great scenery; do not miss the large settlers statue group at the turnoff.
The museum is modern, very nice, and contains an incredible, eclectic collection of folk art from around the world. Sounds like a short visit, but everything was so interesting we ended up spending most of a morning. Nice cafe in the plaza as well. Well worth the short side trip.

Go early and enjoy the exhibits and history. The early history of the area and history of the indians from the ealry 1500 's is a must to see. Loved the large exhibit in the center of the museum !

Great museum to visit - everytime someone comes to visit it's on the list. Every room is a travel adventure - and it makes you think about what objects show about culture when placed together by type of art/object. Love it!

Best of the best. Don’t miss. One of a kind. Must see on any trip to Santa Fe. Really unique. Good for children.

The International Folk Art Museum is a destination every time I go to Santa Fe ;the Alexander Girard collection its outstanding, and even if you spend all day it would be hard to see it all with close attention ,also the changing exhibits are always interesting..a must see in Santa Fe if you like Folk Art !!

It was awesome and very interesting to see so many various exhibits. It was a highlight of our day. I can highly recommend seeing this Museum if ever in Santa Fe….you won’t be disappointed.

A very unique place as they have so many different exhibits through out the year. All ages will enjoy this museum. Also on Museum Hill there are other museums that you can visit and enjoy within a very short distance.

With many folk art pieces in the permanent collections, the Museum does a wonderful job of presenting new exhibits of many and various kinds. I enjoyed the beadwork exhibit during my last visit.

If you are at all interested in folk art, you must see the Girard collection at this museum! It has examples from every country that has folk art artisans. They are beautifully displayed. It is a wonder!

We visited the Museum of International Folk art on our last day in Santa Fe, and we're so happy we did! It was one of the highlights of our trip! The Girard collections are amazing. I could have spent hours in that room... there is so much to see! He donated his collections from around the world, most of which are colorful and enchanting.If you love folk art, please do not miss this... it is something you will not forget!

We visited Santa Fe primarily because of the International Folk Art Market, which is staged on the grounds of Museum Hill, a destination that includes the Museum of International Folk Art. It's the fourth time we have visited this museum and it never disappoints. Special exhibits included one on elaborate masks appropriate for a pandemic experience and war rugs from Afghanistan, which are crafted primarily for sales to international travelers. The permanent exhibit is delightful and includes dozens of dioramas from Latin America, Asia and Africa. Also featured are stunning textiles, tin art and sculpture.

World known, the Museum of Int'l Folk Art is a favorite with children and adults. The main collection currently is a huge room of folk dolls from a round the world. Dolls (of all kinds) were arranged in grouping or in dioramas along with collections of appropriate toys (for example, trains). The other exhibit were interesting as well with poster and textiles. Worth the time and the price.

What a terrific museum! Every kind of folk art piece you can imagine, displayed with imagination and joy. The recent exhibit of Alexander Girard's own work was fascinating and, again, organized delightfully. Try taking a docent tour, as the largest (and it's VERY large) room has no text accompanying the art. There are three throughout the day and our docent was excellent. Truly like no museum I've ever experienced.

Great museum and gift shop!It has many special shows ...some of the best I've seen about crafts...Its on museum hill.

We were taken totally by surprise by the quality & fascinating displays at this museum. How did 2 people collect all of these amazing artifacts & keep them organized? From Senegal to India to Peru, the variety of cultures & exhibits was so interesting. We had fun trying to guess the country/culture of origin before checking it against the museum guide. This was one of the "funnest" museums we've experienced. Will visit it again when we return to Santa Fe.

We were told by our host to visit this museum and we were not disappointed. The Girard exhibit is outstanding! Museum Hill is a destination in itself and when we return to Santa Fe we plan to allow more time for all of the museums and the botanical gardens. The setting itself is beautiful, perched high on a hill. I am disabled and we were pleasantly surprised to find an elevator that goes to the museum level. If you have mobility issues, you can rest easy about this stop. The exhibit was fascinating, a lifetime collection of textiles and folk art. These were meticulously showcased. I recommend this to all ages, the gift shop was great as well. There are fabulous sculptures throughout the grounds and a nice cafe. When we return, we plan to have lunch there.

We have always found a stop at the Hill a great break from the rest fo the city. It is a wonderful spot to appreciate all the natural beauty of the area and the architecture is stunning. The outdoor sculptures are excellent and very fitting. For a break, the arboretum is right there and the landscape of the area is very well done.

It was a very cold, windy and snowy day. We have been to all the other venues on the Hill. We decided to give the Folk Art Museum a shot. We have been to a number of nice private collections of great folk art and we thought this one should "knock our socks off!"

Sad to say, the Folk Art museum is the low point of Museum Hill. The building is beautiful, but when you get inside.... The collection is a "mesh mash" of pieces made yesterday and pawned off as folk art. There is virtually no American Folk art in the collection. In this collection, Victorian paper pieces are considered folk art? Some of the displays from South America are downright depressing and disturbing! The huge room with pieces in glass cases without any informational markings (unless you drag a huge dull book around with you!) is arranged in a very confusing/muddled manner with little or no central theme.

As much as we enjoy good folk art, we were sadly disappointed here. There were far too pieces that really "grabbed" you with their naive artistic expression, their sincerity, their functionality, and any connection with the artist him/herself! There were absolutely NO tramp art pieces that had any real sense of design or interesting construction! With all the nice folk art & Native American pieces you can find all over Santa Fe in the shops and consignment stores, I think you could fill the museum with far better pieces! We spent less than an hour going through here--which should tell you a lot about the experience!

I have never seen a museum like this. There were dioramas, puppets and memorabilia from all over the world. I was absolutely fascinated with the whole display.

Fantastic museum, so much to see but still did not personally feel overwhelming. It has a very robust folk art collection and is a personal favorite museum, having been multiple times - really feel like you can see something different every time you go. It's located on Museum Hill, which is beautiful to walk around too. The shop, while small, is also great!

Extraordinary, sprawling collection, brilliantly curated. Save time to go through the rooms at leisure. Occasional kid-friendly crafts activities available. I didn't know so many cultures dove into beading with such energy and imagination!

This museum is not to be missed. The experience is really difficult to describe. Literally ten thousand miniatures of world wide culture. Simply amazing. Well worth the time and $. Loved it!

Wonderful experience for all ages! This museum is truly one of a kind. Children will be amazed but so will adults. There are so many pieces of extraordinary art one almost doesn’t know where to look first. There is even a special area where children, particularly the very young, can work with blocks and other items to extend their visit.

Also, the art plaza that extends from this museum to the Native American arts museum is beautiful. The setting is on Museum Hill which itself is worth a visit. Fabulous!

After many years of visiting Santa Fe as part of our annual pilgrimage from the Smoky Mountains to the Rockies we finally found the time to the museum --and wish we had gone earlier. It will now be a key part of our annual visit -- fine art is beautifully presented and very nicely curated: both sensitive, creative, and HONEST in honoring the cultures represented. Multiple forms of media are included and rich experiences included for much younger patrons (i.e., kids). Be sure to make time for the first class cafe on the hill.

Cant believe I’ve lived in NM this long and never visited before. So interesting and the museum gift shop is great. Do your tour the opposite of the way they’ll tell you because you will want to spend most of your time in the Girard permanent collection. Sunday morning right after they open is a good choice.

This museum on museum hill is not to be missed. A great collection of everything reflecting the native American and Spanish colonial influence on the area. Wonderful miniatures.

Imagine our surprise seeing traditional dress from our Norwegian ancestors at this folk art museum in the Southwest! We really enjoyed checking that out, although it was very familiar to us already.
The other area of the museum was filled with miniature displays of figurines. We didn't enjoy that as much. I'm guessing we would have enjoyed it more had we read more about it. Just visually we weren't inspired to learn more.

Unbelieveable array of dioramas and crafts. Very kid friendly with play areas for little ones. Third visit and always find something new here. Located in the Museum Hill complex. Check chamber of commerce website to see if the free shuttle from the center of town is running...otherwise it's a quick 15 minute Lyft ride.

If there's one must-see museum in Santa Fe, this is it. I can't think of another museum I've visited anywhere that is as unique as this one. The main exhibit is incredible, and we had the opportunity to have a personalized tour of the exhibit with a knowledgeable docent who really brought the art to life. Our 3 yo daughter was fascinated by the folk art throughout the museum and had an absolute blast.

I will say, one of the exhibits when we visited was not kid-friendly and may frighten children, but the museum staff did a good job directing us away from that "adult-only" exhibit.

There is a lot of love and care that you feel when wandering through this museum. It is great for all ages. You will get and education and visual delights.

We drove to Museum Hill to visit this attraction. It was excellent. At this museum, we viewed the life-long collection of 10,000 pieces of folk art, toys, miniatures, textiles,and MORE of Alexander Girard. This exhibit had items from around the world. Fascinating. I completed a treasure hunt for different horses in the displays (I found all but one). A very enjoyable use of time.

I love folk art so I was really looking forward to visiting this museum. I was not disappointed. There was a lot to like here but my favorite exhibit by far was Multiple Visions (a permanent exhibit, I think) in the Girard Wing. The exhibit features (literally) thousands of figurines arranged in a variety of vignettes—it is truly amazing, almost overwhelming. I also enjoyed the Japanese masks and the pandemic response exhibit. We went on a Friday afternoon and it was not crowded—and there was plenty of onsite parking. The gift shop has some pretty cool stuff, too.

Well, my husband pretty much thought most of the exhibits were thingamabobs behind plexiglass. So, it’s probably not the best place to take a tidy type-a personality. I thought it was great! Amazingly detailed dioramas, incredible weavings, and a great gift shop with lots of variety. The Museum Hill Restaurant just steps away has wonderful views and good food.

There are so many hands on workshops and amazing displays for the kids to learn from. We love visiting the museum for special events!