Skip to main content
Vilcek Foundation
  • About
    • About

      The Vilcek Foundation raises awareness of immigrant contributions in the United States and fosters appreciation of the arts and sciences.

    • Our Mission
    • Our Founders
    • Our Team
    • Press Center
    • Contact
  • Prizes
    • Prizes

      The Vilcek Foundation Prizes celebrate extraordinary achievements in the arts and sciences.

    • About the Prizes
    • Prize Recipients
    • Vilcek Prizes

      Awards immigrants with a legacy of major accomplishments.

    • Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise

      Recognizes young immigrant professionals for outstanding achievements.

    • Vilcek Prize for Excellence

      Celebrating intellectual and cultural leaders in the United States.

    • Marica Vilcek Prize in Art History

      Honors art historians, curators, and fine arts professionals.

  • Art
  • Grants
    • Grants

      Grants awarded to 501(c)(3) cultural, educational, and philanthropic organizations in the United States.

    • Grants

      Learn more and apply for a grant.

    • Grants History

      Explore a list of past Vilcek Foundation grantees.

  • Events
  • News
Sign Up Search
Home > Art > Olmec-Guerrero Standing Figure

Olmec-Guerrero Standing Figure

Artist

Unknown Artist

Date

500 BCE-200 CE

Medium

Green serpentine with traces of cinnabar

Object Type

Sculpture

Dimensions

H- 11 1/8 x W- 3 2/3 x D- 2/3 in. (28.3 x 9.2 x 1.6 cm)

Collecting Area

Pre-Columbian

Credit Line

The Jan T. and Marica Vilcek Collection

Accession Number

2002.08.1

Copyright

© The Vilcek Foundation

Tags
figure Guerrero Olmec
Share this page
Share this page on X Share this page on Facebook Share this page on LinkedIn

About the Object

Standing figures like this object reflect a popular Olmec style that is likely related to an important pan-Mesoamerican ritual associated with the spiritual/magical transformation between humans and the natural world. This transition was often associated with animals including jaguars, toads, and bats, and may have been connected to the ingestion of hallucinogenic drugs and very likely connected to notions of spiritual and political authority. The most notable features associated with this connection include larger eyes (which may have held inlaid objects such as obsidian), a triangular face more indicative of Guerrero styles such as the Mezcala and Chontal, as well as the upper lip/mustache/fangs, which likely were inlaid as well with materials such as obsidian or shell.

 

Additional Information

The Olmec are often considered by scholars to be one of the most influential cultures in Mesoamerica. Ritualistic representations like this would be maintained by later cultures such as the Mixtec, Maya, and Aztec (also known as the Mexica or the Triple Alliance).

[Throckmorton Fine Art, New York, NY, 1998];

Tags
figure Guerrero Olmec
Share this page
Share this page on X Share this page on Facebook Share this page on LinkedIn

Related Objects

Mezcala Temple

200 BCE–500 CE Unknown Artist
Sculpture of a four column temple with a reclining figure on the top and a staircase carved into the base.

Mezcala Standing Figure

Unknown Unknown Artist
Small abstract stone carving of a standing human figure.

Maya Carved Plaque

250-450 CE Unknown Artist
Jade green plaque with incised images of Mayan dignitary figures.

Chontal Figure

300-100 BCE Unknown Artist
Abstract green stone standing figure with a large pointed nose and indented facial features.

Olmec Standing Figure

1100-500 BCE Unknown Artist
Standing stone figure of a man with stylized geometric facial features, almond-shaped eyes and rounded body parts.

Maya Half-Celt

600-900 CE Unknown Artist
Elaborately incised plaque featuring a human figure wearing a headdress and holding a large staff.

Figural Vessel

1100-500 BCE Unknown Artist
A jade bowl, carved to indicate a human figurelying on their stomach with legs extended backwards.

Olmec Figure

1000-500 BCE Unknown Artist
Ceramic seated figure of a baby with a white round body, open mouth, and red head covering.

Olmec Standing Figure

1000-800 BCE Unknown Artist
Male figure with almond-shaped eyes, cuts indicating arms, hands resting on knees across the torso, and a large open mouth with fangs.

Olmec Standing Figure

1100-500 BCE Unknown Artist
Standing female figure with abstract facial features, breasts, broad shoulders and thick legs.

You may also be interested in

Meleko Mokgosi

Meleko Mokgosi receives the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Fine Arts for paintings that rely on intensive research, reflection, and conversation in order to address widespread misrepresentation of Africa and Africans, and to accurately portray the continent’s complex social and political realities.
Portrait of Meleko Mokgosi

Join our mailing list

Sign Up
Vilcek Foundation
21 East 70th Street
New York, New York 10021

Phone: 212.472.2500

Email: info@vilcek.org

  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Our Founders
    • Our Team
    • Press Center
    • Contact
  • Prizes
    • Prize Recipients
    • Vilcek Prizes
    • Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise
    • Vilcek Prize for Excellence
    • Marica Vilcek Prize in Art History
  • Art
  • Grants
    • Grants History
  • Events
  • News
  • Careers
Connect with us
  • Connect with the Vilcek Foundation on Facebook
  • Connect with the Vilcek Foundation on Instagram
  • Connect with the Vilcek Foundation on X
  • Connect with the Vilcek Foundation on LinkedIn
  • Connect with the Vilcek Foundation on Youtube
  • Connect with the Vilcek Foundation on Vimeo
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
© 2025   Vilcek Foundation
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok