Founded in 1976, the Art Museum of America, houses a collection of Latin American, and Caribbean Art. This art goes from the colonial to the contemporary style period. In addition to the already mentioned collection, the museum also holds regular exhibitions, education programs, and lectures examining the art and culture from other countries. One of the most memorable of the was Frenando Botero’s Sculpture exhibit, which adorned constitution avenue with Botero’s heavy, swollen figures of people and animals.

The museum despite its permanent collection, often features temporary shows, by contemporary Latin American and local artists. Some shows represent the work from Canada and the United States. Before going into the museum, check out the back, where you can find the garden. This garden features boxwood, azaleas, a murky but charming pool that has a statue of the Aztec god of flowers. Some stone frogs that spout water, creating a tranquil atmosphere.

When temporary exhibitions are in place, the sculptures are often scattered on the garden’s grassy area or amongst the trees, that muffle the sounds of traffic. Walking back to the front of the museum you then can see the beautiful architectural details of the building itself. The Spanish Colonial style features white walls, iron grilles, and a striking red tiled roof. The designing architects were, Albert Kelsey an Paul Cret. The building was funded by a philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

Although the museum’s interior suffers from water damage and a rough paint job, this is a place to visit. A must see is the permanent loggia decorated with hued tiles in patterns of those inspired by Inca and Aztec legends. There is also an inclosed patio so you can peer into the garden.

The permanent collection held over some 250 artworks, expanding over the next quarter-century to almost two thousand items of painting, sculpture, installations, photography, and drawing, from the early 20th century and onwards.

The art collection of the OAS was initiated under the organization’s Visual Arts Unit, beginning with the first donated artwork by the Brazilian neo-realist artist Portinari, in 1949. In the following decade the Permanent Council of the OAS determined to establish an acquisitions fund, in order to build up a permanent collection of artworks by significant contemporary artists from the member states of the OAS. A number of works were also purchased from or donated directly by artists, after the temporary exhibitions periodically held at the OAS gallery.