Craft
Intersection

This section reflects the original commitment of El Museo to visual culture based on popular traditions since its first exhibition, The Art of Needlework (1970). Major bodies of works include Puerto Rican wooden santos (saints) created between the 19th and 20th centuries; masks created in Puerto Rico, Mexico, and South and Central America; sculptures by East Harlem artist Gregorio Marzán; vodou banners from Haiti; and embroidered chilean arpilleras that protest political repression. A number of contemporary artists will also be featured, whose work reflects these practices, including recently acquired works from the museum’s 2021 inaugural La Trienal.