Northern Illinois University
Art Museum
College of Visual and Performing Arts

This fall, the NIU Art Museum is presenting one of the most distinctive exhibitions ever hosted on campus: The Olmec Heads Experience. The exhibition features twenty-five monumental, artist-designed sculptures inspired by the ancient Olmec civilization. The exhibition will open in the Art Museum South Gallery, Wednesday, September 16 and will run throughout the fall semester. 

Visitors will discover colorful sculptures across campus while exploring an accompanying museum exhibition featuring educational displays, family activities, and an engaging graphic history of the Olmec civilization. The exhibition is inspired by the stone sculptures carved out of basalt boulders by the Olmec civilization of Mesoamerica from 1200 B.C. to 400 A.D. in what is now the tropical lowlands of Mexico.

Thirteen of the sculptures have been installed around campus in front of Founders Memorial Library, Altgeld Hall, Davis Hall and Jack Arends Hall.

Visit the NIU Arts Blog's gallery of the 13 Olmec Heads installed around campus.

The Olmec Heads Experience is made possible by the NIU Art Museum, NIU University Libraries, the NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts, the NIU Arts and Culture Fee, Shaw Media, and Northern Public Radio.