Ana De Orbegoso

Centre Street Building, Level 2A

Neo-Huaco Concrete and Neo-Huaco Resin by Ana De Orbegoso are on view in Latin American Art / Arte Latinoamericano.

On the north coast of Peru, Moche artists (100‒800 CE) developed a unique style of pottery that celebrated specific individuals—the only example of true portraiture in the ancient Andes. Portraits were created as ceramic vessels using molds that enabled mass production. Despite similarities, each vessel was painted with unique features that allowed for variation in the finished products. Ana De Orbegoso references the Moche portrait vessels in her work and invites audiences to envision themselves as a living legacy to the ancient Peruvian past.

Artist Statement
As an interdisciplinary artist, Ana de Orbegoso explores issues of memory, identity, and gender. Her works contemplate the foundation of her home country, Peru, via its deep ancient and historical roots and reinvigorates them for global, contemporary audiences. Her artistic practice explores gender and identity by re-signifying objects and symbols of historic iconography to create an intimate bond with the spectator. The artist’s neo-huacos in pink resin and painted concrete are brightly colored, contemporary takes on a common form of ancient Peruvian ceramics. As a reference to the Moche portrait vessel, the only example of true portraiture in the ancient Andes, these contemporary renditions maintain the distinctive shape of the original while omitting any identifying facial feature of the subject. De Orbegoso’s pieces combine the genre of portraiture with allusions to Peruvian history and the ancient past calling our attention to omissions within the historical record and rewriting history for today’s contemporary audiences.

Learn more about Orbegoso’s work on Free Admissions, the museum’s podcast.