Ancient and Native American

Ancient and Native American Collection

The Mint Museum of Art features ancient and contemporary art from the many native cultures of the Americas, spanning more than 2,500 years of artistic creativity from the United States to Bolivia. The ancient cultures of Mesoamerica (Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, northern Honduras and El Salvador), Central America (Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama), and Andean South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia) all developed their own unique art styles. These works in earthenware, jadeite and other stones, and the fiber arts embody the social, political and religious ideologies that were the foundations of these vibrant cultures.

Native people of the Americas have persevered for more than 500 years of colonization and persecution. Their art continue to play key roles in their survival, preserving cultural identity and the principles of society and spirituality that sustain human civilization. The museum’s collections of contemporary Native arts showcase pottery and basketry from North America: especially the Southwest, performance masks from Mexico, and modern Maya textiles from Guatemala and Chiapas, Mexico.

Mask