Mayan Arts Today

As anyone who has visited the Yucatan can tell you, Mayan culture is very much alive and thriving throughout parts of Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. This culture is incredibly diverse and nowhere is that more obvious than in the art produced by its people today.

Mayan art can be found in weavings, hammocks, masks, clothing, sculptures, and paintings. One can easily find and take home a piece of Mayan art in a blouse, a bracelet or a belt, hand-woven in Chiapas. The Chiapan women selling them in the square in Merida, or on the streets of Playa del Carmen, also have purses made from old huipiles or newly embroidered purses, all at extremely reasonable prices. Hammocks, of course, can be found almost everywhere in the Yucatan, although the ones made with artistry can be more difficult to find.



The less portable art objects, such as masks, sculptures and paintings, are not transported to the Yucatan by the itinerant travelers, but can be found in a few shops on the Yucatan Peninsula or occasionally uncovered in a chance encounter.

Sculptures and masks are, almost without exception, created as part of traditional ceremonies that Mayans engage in throughout the year to honor their saints and their ancestors. Sculptures are usually created to be an object of worship, as practically every Mayan home has some corner reserved for an altar.

Masks, on the other hand, are carved for special occasions. They have been worn for ceremonies and dances for many years, and are a physical manifestation of the fascinating history and legends that are still very much a part of Mayan life. Masks can be found that are carved specifically for sale. The masks that are carved to be used in dances, and then sold, are considered much more valuable.


Above: One of Georgia Charuhas' recent works, The Lap of Love.

Painting is an art that is only practiced in a few pueblos in the Mayan world. The most famous Mayan painters are of the Tzutujil tribe, most of whom live in Chiapas or Guatemala. The Tzutujil are one of the smallest Mayan tribes, and they have managed to preserve many of their pre-Columbian traditions. Traditional handcraft has always been a source of income for them, which in their case includes painting.

Works by well known artists from this area, such as Pedro Rafael Gonzalez Chavajay and Mariano Gonzalez Chavajay, are difficult to find and are becoming more and more valuable. Some of the newer painters are also quite good and the prices of their paintings are still quite reasonable.

Above: An example of Tzutujil naive art.

Mayan contemporary painting, referred to as naive art, started in 1920 with Juan Sisay from Santiago Atitlan and Rafael Gonzales y Gonzales from San Pedro la Laguna, who were inspired by travelers who came to paint in their village.

Paintings from these artists and their descendants reflect their everyday lives, including ceremonies, dances, processions and healing activities, as well as working in the fields and selling in the mercados.

Below: Detail from a much larger painting showing the "bird's eye view" style of Mayan naive art.



If you are visiting the Yucatan Peninsula, you can find textiles, masks, sculptures and various other objects from the Mayan world and other parts of Mexico at Hecho e Mano in Izamal. For vintage textiles, old and new masks, and a fine selection of Mayan painting, visit the Mayan Arts Gallery in Playa del Carmen. And if you are interested in buying works from one of Merida's most beloved artists, visit the website of Georgia Charuhas.

Hecho a Mano
Calle 31 #323 x 36 y 34
Izamal, Yucatan 97540
+52 (999) 926 0002 (phone and fax)
Hours: Monday through Saturday
10 am to 2 pm, 4 pm to 7 pm

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