American Folk Art Museum Reconsiders Self-Taught Artists in Major Exhibition

This spring, the American Folk Art Museum (AFAM) in New York unveils "Self-Made: A Century of Inventing Artists," a significant exhibition that scrutinizes the traditional concept of the "self-taught artist" through lenses of authorship, agency, and self-representation. Featuring 90 artworks, the display spans from the early 20th century to the present and is organized around three themes: self-portraiture, alter egos, and autobiography. This marks the first in-depth museum investigation into how artists outside mainstream art institutions, particularly those marginalized by race, gender, and disability, have shaped their identities. Highlighting works by Henry Darger, Clémentine Hunter, and others, the exhibition emphasizes the artists' voices and experiences. AFAM, located at 2 Lincoln Square, offers free admission.