Maya
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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.
Sculptures by Maya
3 sculptures catalogued with museum locations. Browse all sculptures
Museums with Maya's Work
1 museum displays Maya's works. Click any museum to see visiting info and the specific works they hold.
About Maya
Stelae are tall carved stone slabs covered with ruler portraits and hieroglyphic texts. They were erected at major city-states during the Classic Period (250-900 CE) to honor kings and record events.
They worked in stone, stucco, wood, bone, shell, jade, and fired clay. Jade was especially valued, symbolizing water, new growth, and primordial places in Maya cosmology.
The Art Institute of Chicago has pieces. The National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City and the Museo Nacional de Arqueología in Guatemala hold the largest collections.
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