Museum Exhibition
Arts of the Ancient Americas
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
From May 31, 2025
Following a multiyear renovation, the new installation reintroduces visitors to the Museum’s collection of ancestral arts of the Americas, representing the artistic legacy of Indigenous artists from across North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean prior to 1600 CE.
Exhibition artworks
Representative work
Olmec artist(s)
Face
900–400 BCE
Jadeite
H. 5 3/4 × W. 5 1/2 × D. 3 in. (14.6 × 14 × 7.6 cm)
View artwork at the museumFeatured works
Las Bocas artist(s)
Seated hollow figure with helmet
1200–800 BCE
Ceramic, cinnabar, red ochre
H. 13 3/8 x W. 12 1/2 x D. 5 3/4 in. (34 x 31.8 x 14.6 cm)
View at museum
Maya artist(s)
Whistling vessel
400–500 CE
Ceramic
H. 11 7/8 x W. 7 3/4 x D. 5 1/4 in. (30.2 x 19.7 x 13.3 cm)
View at museum
Maya artist(s)
Mirror-bearer
410–650 CE
Cordia wood (bocote), red hematite
H. 14 1/8 x W. 9 x D. 9 in. (35.9 x 22.9 x 22.9 cm)
View at museum
Metropolitan Painter
Vessel with mythological scene
600–800 CE
Ceramic, slip
H. 5 1/2 × W. 4 × D. 4 3/16 × Diam. 4 1/2 in. (14 × 10.2 × 10.6 × 11.4 cm)
View at museum
Chakalte'
Relief with enthroned ruler
770 CE
Limestone, paint
H. 35 x W. 34 1/2 x D. 2 3/4 in. (88.9 x 87.6 x 7 cm)
View at museum
Teotihuacan artist(s)
Standing figure
350–600 CE
Green schist
H.16 1/8 x W. 8 1/8 x D. 6 1/8 in. (41 x 20.6 x 15.5 cm)
View at museum30 documented works in this exhibition
View all 30 documented works