The Crocker’s collection of art of the Ancient Americas spans nearly 2,000 years and includes examples from throughout Mesoamerica, Central America, and South America, complementing the Crocker’s collection of works by indigenous artists in North America. The collection, which began with a few examples of western Mexican clay sculpture, has grown to include fine examples of human and animal figures made in clay, and ceramic vessels from Costa Rica, Peru, and Ecuador. Many of these were used for both ceremonial practices and everyday uses, and while the collection primarily focuses on objects produced prior to the arrival of Europeans, they reflect long-standing aesthetic traditions that can also be seen in more contemporary examples.