Collecting Areas

Arts of Africa

“African” describes art from the diverse continent of Africa from 500 BC to the present. The Museum’s African art collection features masks, sculptures, headdresses, textiles, and objects from a variety of regions, cultures, and countries. Masterpieces include a refined cast-metal head of a king from the Court of Benin, and a Fang culture reliquary figure that inspired early-20th-century artists. Many artworks were created to reinforce the rank and prestige of rulers, or to indicate status. Others honor ancestors. The African galleries of the MFAH were expanded and redesigned in 2010 and 2015

Indonesia is a country composed of more than 17,000 islands north of Australia and south of Malaysia. Its ancient Hindu name meant “Islands of Gold.” Gold and gems were believed to contain supernatural force. Gold represented the male power of the sun, burning with sacred and dangerous heat. Without parallel in America, this collection was the inspiration of Alfred C. Glassell, Jr. Additional works were generously funded by Isabel B. and Wallace S. Wilson, and the Brown Foundation Accessions Endowment