The result of extensive fieldwork throughout Mexico, Central and South America, and Spanish- and French-speaking islands in the Caribbean, this beautiful and informative book concentrates on folk art made by Latin Americans for Latin Americans; it does not concern itself with folk art made for export. The objects illustrated are not only aesthetically pleasing, but have also been carefully selected because they play central roles in Latin American society and culture.

In this study, Chapter 1 discusses the nature of folk art and explores the subject through time in Latin America, with special attention paid to the composite character of contemporary folk art in Latin America. Chapter 2 deals with contemporary folk artists and their conception of the contribution they make to local society and traditions. Chapter 3 presents the rich variety of folk forms in Latin America today and considers them in four categories: ceremonial, utilitarian, recreational, and decorative.

Finally, chapter 4 examines the ever-changing nature of folk art and what such changes mean to the quickly evolving societies served by folk art.