Nation-Building, Nomenclature, and the Mexican Ex-Voto, from 1920s ­to the Present Day

In this presentation, I will explore the shifts in the consideration of ex-votos over the past 100+ years, from the development of the genre known as “arte popular” (popular art) to the present day. This genre emerged in the art historical lexicon following the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920). Its promotion formed part of an attempt by cultural leaders to unify the country and establish a new national identity through reconnecting to Mexico’s Indigenous ancestry. The writings, collecting practices, and curation of ex-votos by prominent cultural figures such as Dr. Atl and Roberto Montenegro have both contributed to their contemporary assignation as “folk” art and have ascribed them to the Mexican art historical canon. Despite the significance of the movement to promote ex-votos and other forms of arte popular, their collection and display in recent museum contexts does not reflect their complexity or value.

Through recounting the history and current standing of ex-votos within the genre of Latin American popular art, I establish the ways in which their designation as “folk” objects impacts their meaning and value. I will also offer insight into the history of the nomenclature used to describe ex-votos to better understand their cultural context.