The Gregory Allicar Museum of Art at Colorado State
University (CSU) is proud to steward this world-renowned collection of African
pottery for the Colorado community. Collected largely throughout the twentieth
century, works of art such as these have long been overlooked in favor of
more iconic masks and figural sculpture created by African artists. In spite of
historical frameworks which position earthenware vessels as “craft” rather than
“art,” their aesthetic value is evident in their unique forms, decorative
elements, and surface textures. Look closely and you can see examples of
projecting sculptural imagery, sunken relief designs, and etched patterns. This
variety of decorative elements not only demonstrates the cultural diversity of
the artists and communities from whence these vessels came but are often
reflective of the function and significance of pottery in local settings. In
addition, scholarship completed by students and faculty at CSU continues to
shed light on the local use and meaning of these objects within their
historical contexts across the African continent. 

 This collection, which features nearly 200 vessels
from 23 different countries and 70 cultures, represents the
wonderful artistic diversity of the African continent and demonstrates how the
visual arts promote values of inclusion and equity at Colorado State
University.