Introducing Peruvian Art

The long history of the South American nation of Peru means art spans thousands of years.

From the art of pre-Columbian civilizations such as the Inca and the Moche to the colonial-era art of the Spanish, Peru has seen plenty of changes over the years. Many people visit the Larco Museum in Lima to marvel at the elaborate gold artwork and the extensive collection of erotic archaeological pieces, such as ceramics. The National Museum in Lima is another great place to get an introduction to pre-Columbian and Inca art.

Later on, the influential Cuzco School of Painting became famous throughout Peru in the colonial era, and some of the most important works are now housed in the Santa Catalina Museum and Convent. You can also find good examples of other religious art at the San Francisco Museum and Convent.

If modern art is more your style, head to the Museum of Contemporary Art, The Lima Art Museum and Enlace Contemporary Art. Here you can see works by some of the top names in Peruvian art, such as Christian Bendayán, Jorge Cabieses, José Luis Carranza and Gerardo Chávez.

Fans of photography should head to the Asociacion Mario Testino, which houses the largest collection of Testino’s photographs in the world.