Diverse peoples of Latin America have shaped and cultivated their environments for over thousands of years and continue to do so today. In this lecture, explore the cosmologies and connections to the land embodied in Mexica (Aztec), Maya, and Inca art. Then, tracing the rise of jardines botánicos (botanical gardens)—institutions that began as centers for colonial science and medicine—consider how these spaces continue to shape our understandings of biodiversity, conservation, and cultural identity.

Layla Bermeo, Kristin and Roger Servison Curator of American Paintings, Art of the Americas, MFA
Lucía Abramovich Sánchez, Carolyn and Peter Lynch Curator of Decorative Arts and Sculpture, Art of the Americas, MFA