Every five years, we invite everyone who values Hungarian folk art, traditional culture, and the power of creative communities to a special gathering. “Living Folk Art—18th National Folk Art Exhibition” is the most significant showcase of contemporary folk crafts, where the values of traditional craft culture, artisanal expertise, and contemporary creative thinking converge. “Living Folk Art – 18th National Folk Art Exhibition” is organized through the collaboration of three organizations: professional coordination is handled by the Hungarian Heritage House, the call for entries was conducted in close cooperation with the Federation of Folk Art Associations, and the venue is provided by the Museum of Ethnography.
Preliminary exhibitions nationwide
The exhibition was preceded by a national competition, to which individual artists and communities submitted approximately 6,000 entries. From this rich collection, the expert jury first selected items for eight regional exhibitions, and the national exhibition—set to open in October 2026—will be compiled from these.
National Exhibition at the Museum of Ethnography
What makes the exhibition at the Museum of Ethnography unique is that, in addition to the finished objects, it also showcases the creators, the stories behind them, the communities, and the knowledge that lives on. Behind the works lies a long history of craftsmanship, the stylistic traditions of regional cultures, a respect for materials, and the personal creative journeys of the artisans—all of which ensure that tradition remains relevant and compelling even in the 21st century. The exhibitors come from various regions of the country as well as from Hungarian communities beyond the borders of the Carpathian Basin. It is particularly noteworthy that, in addition to individual masters, the applicants also include creative duos and artist collectives. Masters working together, creators who complement one another, and community-oriented workshops demonstrate that the knowledge of folk art is not only a personal legacy but also a heritage that lives within the community and can be passed on.
How Folk Art Lives On
The term “folk art” likely makes many people’s hearts skip a beat, as even today many people collect and use so-called “folk art objects”—some of which are antique pieces from the past, while others are contemporary works that keep the tradition alive. Although folk art itself no longer exists in the traditional sense, the visual language it expressed through objects has left its mark on certain areas of applied art and the fine arts. By the second half of the 20th century, a distinct branch of art had emerged—folk applied art—that is deeply rooted in tradition yet adapted to the expectations of the modern era. The traditional transmission of craft traditions is no longer very effective today. Instead of direct transmission, it became necessary to find new approaches. The Hungarian model for passing on traditions is recognized worldwide: with the help of ethnographers and art historians, and based on the original collected material, artists study techniques, styles, ornamentation, forms, and regional characteristics—and through a native-level command of the language—the creator reaches a level of knowledge where they can express their own individuality and produce original works, rather than merely creating visually faithful reproductions of earlier objects. However, this creative activity is no longer governed primarily by the tastes of the community. Rather, aesthetic considerations prevail in the process of object-making, though the written and unwritten rules of tradition continue to exert a very strong influence.
Objects That Can Still Be Used Today
The primary goal of the competition and the exhibition is to inspire the creation of objects that are both aesthetically and functionally suited to today’s living conditions. Only in this way can our folk crafts, our traditional motifs, and our traditional craft techniques be preserved; only in this way can this visual culture—which constitutes our “material mother tongue”—be (re)integrated into our everyday lives. The artists both preserve and reshape the heritage left to us. In each object, one can recognize the characteristic motifs, color palette, and techniques of a particular region, while at the same time the artist’s own perspective, spirit of experimentation, and connection to contemporary life are also evident. We have grouped the featured objects around eight key concepts that serve as guiding themes to help visitors understand the exhibition’s message. These are community, craft, value, celebration, landscapes, nature, the present, and play.
Exhibition Details
Curator of the exhibition: Kata Beszprémy
Co-curators of the exhibition: Krisztina Benedek, Szidónia Péter
Exhibition opening: Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. (by invitation only; registration required)
The exhibition will be on view from October 29, 2026, through April 11, 2027, during museum hours.
Exhibition venue: Museum of Ethnography
