Friends of Folk: Freedom and Expression

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FOLK: FREEDOM AND EXPRESSION

Open July 4, 2025- January 2026

American folk art is deeply interwoven with the ideals of American freedom and self-reliance. This will be the biggest exhibition of Folk Art shown at the Peoria Riverfront Museum to date. 

It embodies individual creativity and unique perspectives that give voice to the American experience. Throughout American history, artists working outside the formal art world created extraordinary objects, including quilts, canes, paintings, and sculptures that express themes of self-determination and the pursuit of liberty. 

Today, these objects not only reflect the values and ideals that shaped the nation, but they continue to tell the American story.

Sponsored by Visionary Society, Folk Art and Decoy Club and Illinois Arts Council