Golden Kingdoms: Luxury and Legacy in the Ancient Americas

About

The exhibition will trace the development of metallurgy in the Andes and its expansion northward into Mexico. In contrast with people in other parts of the world, ancient Americans first used metals not for weaponry, tools, or coinage but for objects of ritual and ornament, resulting in works of extraordinary creativity. In addition to objects of gold and silver, the exhibition will feature works of art made from shell, jade, and textiles, materials that would have been considered even more valuable than noble metals. The exhibition will cast new light on the most precious works of art from the ancient Americas and provide new ways of thinking about materials, luxury and the visual arts in a global perspective. The exhibition is co-organized with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which will present the exhibition following the Getty’s presentation.