The staff and board of the American Folk Art Museum mourn the passing of Robert Shaw, an esteemed scholar and a devoted friend of the Museum. 

Shaw was the curator of American Weathervanes: The Art of the Winds, which the Museum presented in 2021. Working closely with AFAM staff, Shaw tirelessly organized this critically-acclaimed exhibition and authored the accompanying book. His passion for these objects and his scholarship on them brought new and profound meaning to the idea of the weathervane as a form of art, design, and public sculpture, delighting scores of visitors who experienced the show at the Museum. 

“Brimming with knowledge but ever curious, Bob was truly a force in the field,” said Emelie Gevalt, Curatorial Chair for Collections and Curator of Folk Art. “He leaves us an extraordinary legacy of publications on canonical folk art traditions, from weathervanes to wildfowl decoys to quilts. Deeply committed to expanding knowledge of the art he loved, he was always ready to share his expertise generously and to pass on all that he learned.” 

In addition to his work on weathervanes, Shaw was key to a 2022 effort to study the Museum’s collection of wildfowl decoys. This project led to new discoveries about a quintessential form of American folk art, and would not have been possible without Shaw’s expertise and participation. 

The Museum’s staff and board extend their sincere condolences to Shaw’s family, friends, and colleagues.