We believe art has the power to transform lives and to build understanding across cultures. The brilliant histories of art belong to everyone, no matter their background.
With 503 contributors from 201 colleges, universities, museums, and research centers, Smarthistory is the most-visited art history resource in the world.
We created Smarthistory to provide students around the world with the highest-quality educational resources for art and cultural heritage—for free.
Masks, reliquaries, power figures and more.
16th–20th century C.E.
What is Central Africa?
20th century C.E.
The Bamileke people inhabit the Grassfields in northwestern Cameroon.
Sculptures represent ideal beauty or can contain spiritual forces.
19th–20th century C.E.
The art of the Fang peoples influenced European modernism, but was designed to hold opposites in balance.
Beads, wood, fabric, and metal—all are used in the art of Central Africa.
Roger D. Arnold
Dr. Christa Clarke
Dr. Kathryn Wysocki Gunsch
Dr. Beth Harris
Dr. Shawnya L. Harris
Dr. Peri Klemm
Juliet Moss
Dr. Steven Zucker
Fowler Museum at UCLA
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Smarthistory
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