frican
art embodies one of humanity's greatest achievements--fusing visual
imagery with spiritual beliefs and social purpose. Its technical achievements
and artistic perfection bear witness to the creative ingenuity of
its makers. Religious beliefs and cultural ideals find artistic expression
not only in masks and figures created primarily for ceremonial purposes,
but also in the utilitarian objects of daily life.
The collection of the National Museum of African
Art (NMAfA) embraces the diverse artistic expressions found throughout
Africa, from ancient to contemporary times. Collection objects range
from ceramics, textiles, furniture and tools to masks, figures and
musical instruments. The arts of painting, printmaking, sculpture
and other media are well represented by living artists whose works
highlight individual creativity, address global and local art trends
and innovatively transform artistic traditions into modern idioms.
We encourage you to discover Africa's rich
cultural diversity as you explore the collection.
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