Pre-Columbian Art refers to the visual arts created by indigenous peoples of the Americas before the late 15th and early 16th centuries, marked by the arrival of Christopher Columbus. This art thrived across the Americas from at least 13,000 BCE until the European conquests and, in some cases, continued to develop afterward. Since many Pre-Columbian cultures lacked writing systems, their visual art became a crucial medium for expressing cosmologies, worldviews, religious beliefs, and philosophies. These artworks also served as mnemonic devices, preserving and communicating cultural knowledge and traditions.

Pre-Columbian artists utilized a wide variety of media and techniques, creating textile paintings on fabrics and hides, ceramics with intricate designs, rock and cave paintings on natural surfaces, body art, particularly facial decorations, and architectural features, including interior murals and wood panel decorations. These diverse art forms were integral to the daily and spiritual lives of Pre-Columbian peoples, reflecting their deep connection to nature and their sophisticated understanding of the world around them .

References:

1. Townsend, R. F. (Ed.). (1992). The Ancient Americas: Art from Sacred Landscapes. The Art Institute of Chicago.

2. Coe, M. D., & Koontz, R. (2008). Mexico: From the Olmecs to the Aztecs. Thames & Hudson.

3. Miller, M. E. (2006). The Art of Mesoamerica: From Olmec to Aztec. Thames & Hudson.