Museum Exhibition

Arts of Oceania

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

From May 31, 2025

Features monumental art from New Guinea, Pacific islands, Australia, and Island Southeast Asia—regions united by shared Indigenous ancestry.

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Exhibition artworks

Representative work

Asmat artist(s)

Body mask

mid-20th century

Mulberry fiber, rattan, sago palm leaves, wood, bamboo, cassowary bone, cassowary feathers, feathers, coix seeds, pigment

H. 89 x W. 32 x D. 23 1/2 in. (226.1 x 81.3 x 59.7 cm)

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Featured works

Cenderawasih Bay artist

Sereu (beaded panel)

Late 19th–early 20th century

Glass beads, coconut palm fiber, cotton

(Approx.) H. 19 11/16 × W. 25 9/16 in. (50 × 65 cm)

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Nage artist

Ana deo (ancestral couple)

late 19th–early 20th century

Wood

(Approx.) H. 10 × W. 21 × D. 8 in. (25.4 × 53.3 × 20.3 cm)

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Ngada artist

Lawo butu (women’s ceremonial skirt)

late 19th–early 20th century

Cotton, glass beads, chambered-nautilus shell, nassa shell

H. 74 × W. 30 in. (187.96 × 76.2 cm) as mounted

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Marshall Islands artist

Deel (fan)

late 19th–early 20th century

Pandanus leaves, hibiscus fiber

H. 16 1/2 × W. 11 × D. 7/8 in. (41.9 × 27.9 × 2.2 cm) H. 20 1/4 w/mount

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Māori artist

Waka huia (treasure box)

mid-late 19th century

Wood, shell (pāua)

Assembled: H. 6 1/2 × W. 22 1/2 × D. 9 3/4 in. (16.5 × 57.2 × 24.8 cm)

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Māori artist

Epa (carved panel for a storehouse)

Mid-18th century or earlier

Wood

H. 59 × W. 13 1/2 × D. 4 in. (149.9 × 34.3 × 10.2 cm)

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23 documented works in this exhibition

View all 23 documented works