Visual Arts

Indigenous groups produced a variety of ceramics, sculptures, and paintings prior to the arrival of the Spanish. In fact, pottery dating back to 3,000 B.C. has been discovered in the Ecuadorian village of Valdivia. When the Spaniards arrived, the emphasis shifted to religious subjects. Although the Virgin Mary and Catholic saints were popular subjects, indigenous influences were evident in the work of some artists, including Manuel Chili (better known as Caspicara) and Gaspar Sangurima. Many museums in Ecuador have colonial paintings on display.

The Quito School rose to prominence in the 17th and 18th centuries as a result of an artistic style that favored extreme depictions of Catholic motifs. Following Ecuador's independence, however, a more secular approach predominated, with paintings focusing on natural landscapes, social elite, commoners, and revolution heroes. The indigenous population of Ecuador is a prominent theme in the work of many contemporary artists. This includes Oswaldo Guayasamn, Ecuador's most famous modern artist, whose paintings frequently depict distorted, suffering indigenous figures. Because of his Cubist influences, Guayasamn has been dubbed the "Americanista Picasso" by some.