Folk art encompasses art produced from an indigenous culture or by peasants or other laboring tradespeople. In contrast to fine art

Fine art

Fine art or the fine arts encompass art forms developed primarily for aesthetics and/or concept rather than practical application. Art is often a synonym for fine art, as employed in the term "art gallery"....

, folk art is primarily utilitarian and decorative rather than purely aesthetic.. Folk Art is characterized by a naive style, in which traditional rules of proportion and perspective are not employed.
Closely related terms are Outsider Art, Self-Taught Art and Naive Art.

As a phenomenon that can chronicle a move towards civilization yet rapidly diminish with modernity, industrialization, or outside influence, the nature of folk art is specific to its particular culture.