
Maya sculpture spans over two millennia, from the first millennium BCE through the post-Classic period. Maya artists worked in stone, stucco, wood, bone, shell, and fired clay, creating everything from monumental stelae to miniature jade carvings. During the Classic Period (c. 250-900 CE), powerful city-states like Tikal, Palenque, and Copán commissioned elaborate sculptural programs for royal courts and temples.
The stelae, tall carved stone slabs covered with portraits and hieroglyphic texts, are the most distinctive Maya sculptural form. Maya artists are notable for having signed their works, an unusual practice in the ancient Americas. Our collection includes 3 works at the Art Institute of Chicago.
3 sculptures catalogued with museum locations. Browse all sculptures
1 museum displays Maya's works. Click any museum to see visiting info and the specific works they hold.
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