Cuanegros Mask, Hidalgo

Faces of Transformation: Mexican Masks from the Lazar Collection

Selected from the permanent collection, the masks in this exhibition represent the richness of the Mexican mask making tradition. The masks served as a way for the wearers to ritually transform themselves into the characters of communal dances that sustain vital relationships in the community and support the ordering of the cosmos. In this context, masks are powerful objects that facilitate a significant ritual transformation that extends far beyond simply concealing the wearer’s face. As beautifully crafted folk art objects, these masks reflect the deep cultural heritage of masks and dance traditions in Mexico.

All the masks in the exhibition came from the Lazar Family collection which was recently gifted to the Museum.

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