AFAM Open with Renovations Still Underway
- Posted on
- By Museum SHop
As of September 26, 2025, the American Folk Art Museum’s fall exhibition and newly refreshed Shop are now open to the public through a temporary entrance on Columbus Avenue. The Museum has embarked on its most significant renovation in over 30 years, with upgrades to galleries, offices, restrooms, and the Shop, plus a redesigned façade to debut in spring 2026 — timed with the nation’s 250th anniversary. Supported generously by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, these improvements will transform AFAM into a renewed cultural hub while continuing its mission to celebrate folk and self-taught art.
As of September 26, 2025, both the Museum Shop and our highly anticipated fall exhibition are officially open to the public. Guests will enter through a temporary entrance on Columbus Avenue, located just next door to the Museum’s former entryway, while we prepare to unveil a brand-new façade and entryway in 2026.
These renovations represent the most significant transformation of our physical space in more than 30 years. The updates will be introduced in multiple phases beginning fall 2025, with full completion scheduled for spring 2026, perfectly timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. We invite you to be part of this exciting chapter — explore the new exhibition, shop our refreshed store, and witness the evolution of the Museum as it moves toward a historic milestone.
The large-scale renovations taking place at 2 Lincoln Square will inaugurate an entirely new American Folk Art Museum experience once completed. Among the many transformative changes planned include upgraded infrastructure and installation of new mechanical and operations systems; expanded and renovated on-site office space for Museum staff; remodeled public restrooms; new flooring throughout the Museum and Shop; and an overhauled and reconfigured Shop with new, custom-built display case cabinets (designed by Chris Parow) and new wall shelving throughout.
Additionally, the Museum will reimagine the existing courtyard located on 66th Street into a functional public space for outdoor gathering, Museum events, and artistic programming. The exterior facade of the Museum, including the entryway and signage, will also be redesigned to better attract pedestrians passing through the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Manhattan.
The Museum and Museum Shop are located on the ground floor of 2 Lincoln Square, the same location as the Manhattan New York Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the owner of the building. The renovations of the Museum and Shop have been scheduled during the same time as a larger project being undertaken by the Church to renovate the Temple, which was announced by the Church in 2023 and is expected to be complete by 2028. The renovations to the American Folk Art Museum have been generously funded by the Church.
Jason T. Busch, Becky and Bob Alexander Director & CEO of the American Folk Art Museum, commented: “For more than 30 years, AFAM has invested in the Lincoln Square neighborhood, and there is much to look forward to with the most significant upgrades and renovations to our space in decades. As the nation’s museum of folk and self-taught art, we are excited to unveil a completely new AFAM in early 2026 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States in style. We are grateful to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for their long-standing support of AFAM and commitment to the Museum as part of their Manhattan footprint. The modernization of our galleries, staff offices, and Museum Shop would not be possible without their generous subsidy and guidance throughout this project.”
About the American Folk Art Museum
Founded in 1961, the American Folk Art Museum is a global leader dedicated to the preservation and promotion of folk and self-taught art across time and place. Candid, genuine, and unexpected, the Museum celebrates the creativity of individuals whose singular talents have been refined largely through personal experience rather than formal artistic training. With a collection spanning 8,000 works of art from four centuries and nearly every continent, the American Folk Art Museum engages people of all backgrounds through its collections, exhibitions, publications, and public programs as the leading forum shaping the understanding and appreciation of folk and self-taught art. Thanks to the generous support of our members, patrons, and donors, admission to the Museum is always free. In 2025, AFAM was voted #1 in Newsweek’s Best Art Museum readers’ choice poll.