The American Folk Art Museum (AFAM) on Manhattan's Upper West Side will temporarily close this summer for a major renovation project. The museum will shutter its current exhibition "Somewhere to Roost" on May 2 and close remaining galleries on May 26. The renovation, the largest in 30 years, will revitalize the museum shop, courtyard, office spaces, entry façade, and operations systems, with phased reopenings starting this fall and full completion expected next spring, timed around the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.
The closure matters because AFAM has been a vital, free-admission beacon for self-taught and folk artists since 1961, offering exhibitions that spotlight alternative media and underrepresented perspectives outside formal art education. The renovation, funded by the Manhattan New York Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (which owns the building), will enhance visitor amenities and outdoor programming, ensuring the museum continues its unique curatorial mission. This project underscores the ongoing investment in niche cultural institutions that preserve and celebrate non-traditional artistic practices.