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African 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. The National Museum of African Art was originally formed in 1964 as a private educational foundation devoted to the traditional arts of Africa. Today, the museum houses over 7,000 artifacts from sub-Saharan Africa, including masks, carvings, gongs clothing and more. These artifacts represent hundreds of African cultures as well as the work of contemporary African artists. The permanent collection is divided into five sections: the sculpture of sub-Saharan Africa, the art of Benin, the pottery of Central Africa, the archaeology of the ancient Nubian city of Kerma, and the artistry of utilitarian objects. These are displayed in addition to numerous traveling exhibits. |
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