The Milwaukee Art Museum's commitment to the work of folk and self-taught artists began as early as 1951 with the gifts of two works by Wisconsin artist Anna Louisa Miller. During the 1960s and 1970s, the collection was significantly expanded when a number of important works were purchased including a major group of Shaker furniture and objects, an Ammi Philips portrait, a Wilhelm Schimmel eagle and John Kane's Bust of a Highlander. A major gift in 1981 from the estate of Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch further enhanced the Collection's 19th-century holdings.

The 1980s also saw the Collection grow significantly in 20th-century material, culminating in 1989 with the acquisition of the renowned Michael and Julie Hall Collection of American Folk Art. The Hall Collection, comprised of some 273 works, remains the largest addition to the Folk and Self-Taught Collection and features works by Bill Traylor, Martin Ramirez and Edgar Tolson.

In an effort to explore the limits of the self-taught field, the Museum has also begun to acquire a substantial collection of works by European outsider artists thanks entirely to the vision and generosity of Milwaukee collector Anthony Petullo.

American "Tobacco Spit" Glazed Jug, ca. 1890	American Aerial Ferry Duluth to Minnesota Point, 1905
American African-American Cane, ca. 1900	American Animal Kingdom Cane, ca. 1890
American Banner Weathervane, ca. 1850	American Bell's Bar Weightlifter, ca. 1950s
American Box, ca. 1830	American Deep Dish, ca. 1825
American Dotted Root Snake, ca. 1890	American Fighting Cats, ca. 1890