This is the first comprehensive and authoritative survey of an important and increasingly popular field. Because each of the contributors is an expert on his or her own national art, it is also the first to present a genuinely Latin American viewpoint. 17 scholars, critics and curators provide an exciting and challenging new assessment of twentieth-century Latin American art. The wider public and scholars alike will welcome the full treatment of the different histories and cultural traditions that have given each country its own character.

Major artists such as Wifredo Lam, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Fernando Botero are seen in a wider context, and the exploration of the rich and important heritage of previously overlooked countries such as Ecuador, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Paraguay and Bolivia will be a revelation to many. Springing from complex cultural roots, Latin American art is fresh, varied and often startling in its originality. Its vast range and astonishing qualities are represented here in over 300 outstanding images.