This special exhibit examines the conquest and colonization of the Western Hemisphere by Europeans beginning in the 1500s and the subsequent era of oppression of indigenous peoples. Some objects in “Collision & Creation” express traditional stability, while others are a direct result of the colonial exchange between native peoples and foreign nations.

The harsh realities of European conquest brought forth new forms of artistic expression, bringing together a unique mixture of people, materials and ideas that influenced the history and future of indigenous arts. Today, indigenous arts in the Americas reflect people’s efforts to balance traditions with contemporary life.