Also known as All Souls Day, the traditional Mexican holiday of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) takes place November 1–2. It’s believed that the gates of the land of the dead open on the night of October 31, and souls are allowed to cross over to visit their living families—children’s souls on November 1 and adults’ souls on November 2.
Explore what makes Dia de los Muertos special with a few objects from SAMA's permanent collection.
Tree of Life Tree of Life (1968) by UnknownSan Antonio Museum of Art
Trees of life
Trees of life are a standard of Mexican popular art typically handmade from clay and have a tree-like structure. The limbs may be decorated with flowers, angels, animals, or other items, and can convey any number of themes and activities.
Tree of Death (1978) by UnknownSan Antonio Museum of Art
Trees of death
This Tree of death is an example of the Tree of Life popular art tradition where the central theme is death imagery associated with the Day of the Dead. Trees of life with death imagery may be placed on Day of the Dead altars to memorialize loved ones.
AlebrijeSan Antonio Museum of Art
Alebrijes
Alebrijes are sculptures of fantastical creatures painted in bright colors. They are a more recent form of cartoneria—the art of making papier-mâché sculptures. Cartoneria has been a cornerstone of Mexican popular art since the sixteenth century.
You may also recognize a modern adaptation of alebrijes from the Disney movie Coco.
Tripod Plate Tripod Plate (ca. A.D.700-900) by UnknownSan Antonio Museum of Art
Skeletons
The most recognizable symbol of the holiday, skulls and skeletons are prominent in the Museum’s collection.
Skeleton street vendor
This skeleton figure represents a vendor of small birds such as those typically seen along the waterways surrounding Mexico City. This work was a part of a Día de Los Muertos exhibit made by the artist Miguel Linares, honoring the bird sellers of the region.
San Pascualito
San Pascualito is a popular saint associated with the sixteenth-century Spanish friar San Pascual Bailón. He is venerated in the state of Chiapas, Mexico, and in Guatemala, where he performed a miracle that led to his renown.
Tripod plate
This black-on-cream painted vessel has several representations of human or animal bones indicating a focus on burial ceremonies. These bones perhaps speak to Mesoamerican ideas about death and the Underworld, which resonate in today’s Día de los Muertos celebrations.
El Pollo Loco El Pollo Loco (2010) by Cecilia Bacilio FelipeSan Antonio Museum of Art
Food
Placing the favorite foods of the departed, or traditional treats like pan de muerto, on an ofrenda is said to help encourage their souls to visit over the two-day holiday.
El Pollo Loco
The artist Cecilia Basilio Felipe creates a lively scene from a small restaurant she named “El Pollo Loco,” or “The Crazy Chicken.” This piece is representative of the ceramic tradition in Ocumicho, known for its women ceramicists and the dynamism of its figures.
Guitarra Conchera Guitarra Conchera (1930) by UnknownSan Antonio Museum of Art
Music
An important part of every culture, music has been a staple of Mexican celebrations for centuries.
Guitarra Conchera
A guitarra conchera is a twelve-stringed variation of the mandolin that is used by Conchero dancers. Concheros are dance and ceremonial groups that originated in Mexico during the early colonial period. They often wear feathered headdresses like those on the figures painted here.
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Community
People are the most important part of any celebration. The San Antonio Museum of Art bring people together with art, history, and culture.
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See more at SAMA
SAMA's collection includes approximately 10,000 works of Latin American art. Visit the Museum for more insight into Día de los Muertos, participate in cultural events, and to continue learning through art.
