The Museum opened to the public in 1953 and has gained national and international recognition as the home to the world’s largest collection of folk art». The collection of more than 135,000 artifacts forms the basis for exhibitions in four distinct wings: Bartlett, Girard, Hispanic Heritage, and Neutrogena.

The Girard Wing’s popular long term exhibition, Multiple Visions: A Common Bond», showcases folk art, popular art, toys and textiles from more than 100 nations. The late Alexander Girard, who contributed his immense collection to the museum, designed this unorthodox and delightful exhibition, which opened in 1982.

The Hispanic Heritage Wing of the Museum of International Folk Art is one of the few museum wings in the U.S. which is devoted to the art and heritage of Hispanic/Latino cultures. In September 2008, after nearly 20 years, the inaugural exhibition Familia y Fe came down and the Museum of International Folk Art has embarked upon the long anticipated remodeling and updating of the Hispanic Heritage Wing. The Museum envisions an exciting new space where changing exhibits can take place on a larger scale. These exhibits will still showcase New Mexican Arts and culture but in exciting and unique ways, relating New Mexico to the larger Latino/Hispano communities within our country and the rest of the Spanish-speaking world.

The Bartlett Wing, named in honor of museum founder Florence Dibell Bartlett, has two galleries that offer rotating exhibitions based on the museum collections and on field studies of specific cultures or art forms. Exhibition in this wing have ranged from Turkish, Tibetan and Swedish traditions to New Deal era art» in New Mexico, recycled objects»and mayólica» and ¡CARNAVAL!»

The Neutrogena Wing» encompasses the Cotsen Gallery and Lloyd’s Treasure Chest. The gallery provides an ideal setting for exhibitions featuring textiles from the museum’s renowned collection which includes the Neutrogena Collection, a gift to the museum from Lloyd Cotsen and the Neutrogena Corporation in 1995. This international collection contains exquisite textiles and garments as well as objects. Lloyd's Treasure Chest» invites visitors to explore what goes on behind-the-scenes in a museum and attracts all ages. The Neutrogena Wing opened in 1998, expanding upon an ongoing public-private partnership that has characterized the museum’s profile since its inception.