Dear Friend,
Greetings from the new American Folk Art Museum! I’m thrilled to welcome you back to AFAM this holiday season to see the most significant renovations to our home in more than 30 years. On your next visit, you’ll notice transformative changes: our old tile floors have been replaced with a beautiful plant-based terrazzo, sleek new wood baseboards line the galleries, and behind the scenes, new mechanical, security, climate, and sound systems are improving operations and the guest experience. Please note that we are currently using a temporary entrance, with signage to guide you—it will remain in place until this time next year.
Over the next few weeks, you’ll have even more opportunities to visit. Through December 23, the Museum will remain open on Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in addition to our typical Wednesday through Sunday schedule.
Our Shop has also been fully remodeled with a bright, refreshed design that feels modern yet retains AFAM’s folk-inspired charm. Come by to browse our expanded selection of textiles, décor, jewelry, books, and gifts—many handcrafted by artisans—or visit us online. You’ll be supporting the Museum with every purchase. And mark your calendar for Museum Store Sunday on November 30! The perfect time to kick off…or top off your holiday shopping.
Our upgrades mark the first phase of improvements, with additional work to be completed in 2026, including new office space for our exceptional Staff, remodeled restrooms, a new façade and entrance, and a reimagined courtyard on 66th Street. Deep thanks are owed to our entire Staff—especially our incomparable Director of Operations, Betsy Lewin—and to our landlord, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has generously subsidized these enhancements as part of its restoration of the Lincoln Square neighborhood in Manhattan.
This fall also brought one of the most significant gifts in AFAM’s history: a landmark $3 million contribution from Deborah Davenport and Stewart Stender establishing the Deborah Davenport and Stewart Stender Curator of Folk Art position. The inaugural holder is my esteemed colleague Emelie Gevalt, who, as Deputy Director and Chief Curatorial and Program Officer, will continue overseeing our historical art collections as curator of folk art. The magnanimous gift underscores AFAM’s leadership in the field and comes at a meaningful time—on the eve of the nation’s 250th anniversary and alongside our autumn and winter exhibition, An Ecology of Quilts: The Natural History of American Textiles.
An Ecology of Quilts takes an eco-critical view of quilting traditions, bringing together 30 works from the eighteenth through twentieth centuries that reveal deep ties between the environment and textile-making. Many of the quilts are new to AFAM’s collection, or haven’t had an opportunity to be displayed for many years. We are deeply grateful to philanthropist Fleur S. Bresler, whose $100,000 gift supports the exhibition and builds on her generous backing of past quilt presentations, including WALL POWER!, which will be shown at the Dayton Arts Institute next year.
Emelie recently joined WNYC’s Alison Stewart to discuss An Ecology of Quilts, quilting traditions, and folk ecology. The exhibition has also been featured in Dwell, Hyperallergic, and Antiques and The Arts Weekly.
We are thrilled to welcome two new members of AFAM’s leadership team: Nicholas Cohn, Chief Advancement Officer, and Mitch Case, Director of Communications and Audience Development. Both of these talented colleagues come to us with years of seasoned experience in supporting under-recognized artists and communities—values that align perfectly with the Museum’s mission.
In addition to these staff additions, our Board continues to grow. At their October meeting, our Trustees voted to elect Gregory (Greg) Gross as their newest member. Based in Pittsburgh, Greg is a retired attorney, practicing ceramicist, and dedicated collector of American folk art. He brings both professional expertise and a deep appreciation for the ways in which handmade objects convey human stories.
As we look ahead to 2026 and the country’s semi-quincentennial, it’s clear that AFAM is truly the nation’s museum of folk and self-taught art. Newsweek readers agreed, naming us the #1 Best Art Museum in America—we can’t wait to defend our title next year!
You’ll be hearing from me again soon as we launch our annual year-end giving campaign. Your support means so much. For now, I wish you an early and very happy Thanksgiving.
With gratitude~
Jason
Jason T. Busch
Becky and Bob Alexander Director & CEO