Exhibition

El Dorado: Myths of Gold

Bentley and Robert H. Schomburgk, Twelve Views in the Interior of the Guianas, 1840; Ernest Charton de Treville, Guayaquil, 1849; Johann Moritz Rugendas, View of Valparaíso, 1842. Design Estudio Herrera.

Bentley and Robert H. Schomburgk, Twelve Views in the Interior of the Guianas, 1840; Ernest Charton de Treville, Guayaquil, 1849; Johann Moritz Rugendas, View of Valparaíso, 1842. Design Estudio Herrera.

El Dorado: Myths of Gold

On view: through

Americas Society presents the second part of El Dorado: Myths of Gold, a two-part group exhibition exploring the legend of El Dorado as a foundational myth of the Americas. The exhibition presents artworks by more than sixty artists, from the pre-Hispanic period to the contemporary era, that challenge, reinforce, and question the continuity and effects of the myth in the Americas into the present. 

El Dorado is a tale of searches and quests, delirium, and violence. During the colonization of the Americas, rumors of an Indigenous kingdom replete with gold and precious stones quickly permeated the European imagination, galvanizing the invasion of the continent without regard for Indigenous lives, ancestral territories, or environmental concerns. Despite never being found, the mythical El Dorado functioned as a foundational ethos for the colonization of the Americas that persists until today. The city of gold has transformed into more intangible, though equally powerful, personal and collective values—such as individualism, greed, and consumerism—that are central to contemporary capitalist societies. 

As we grapple with the enormous long-term sociopolitical and environmental effects of this operating dynamic, there is a pressing need to reevaluate its influence on our identification as human beings and members of a globalized society. Presenting artworks from the precolonial period to today, this exhibition complicates and reevaluates the idea of El Dorado, employing the myth as a framework for understanding the Americas. By placing historical and contemporary artworks together, the exhibition facilitates dialogues between past and present to investigate how the myth has shaped the value of gold, as well as that of territories, peoples, religious beliefs, and nature. 

Part I of the exhibition was on display from September 6 through December 16, 2023 and part II took place from January 24 through May 18, 2024. 

View gallery and visitors information here.

The exhibition is accompanied by two publications: an exhibition catalog featuring a curatorial text along with the exhibition checklist, published in September 2023; and a reader on El Dorado featuring essays by more than fourteen scholars as well as primary sources, published January 2024.

Artists in the show include: Olga de Amaral, Denilson Baniwa, Bruno Baptistelli, Andrés Bedoya, Charles Bentley, Juan Brenner, Fernando Bryce, Wendy Cabrera Rubio, Leda Catunda, Chiriquí artist, Coclé artists, william cordova, Juan Covelli, Covens & Mortier, Theodor De Bry, Dario Escobar, Scherezade Garcia, Anna Bella Geiger, Mathias Goeritz, Joaquín Gutiérrez, Thomas Hariot, John Harris, Pablo Helguera, Ana Mercedes Hoyos, Alfredo Jaar, Nancy La Rosa & Juan Salas Carreño, Lambayeque artist, Jaime Lauriano, Mariano León, Hew Locke, Karen Lofgren, Juan Pedro López, Liliana Maresca, Esperanza Mayobre, Sara Mejia Kriendler, Ana María Millán, Marta Minujín, Herman Moll, Priscilla Monge, Santiago Montoya, Carlos Motta, Eamon Ore-Giron, Rubén Ortiz Torres, Ebony G. Patterson, Rolando Peña, José Antonio Peñaloza, Armando Queiroz, Ronny Quevedo, Mazenett Quiroga, Quimbaya style artist, Freddy Rodríguez, Carlos Rojas, Miguel Ángel Rojas, Luis Romero, Harmonia Rosales, Johann Moritz Rugendas, Tiago Sant’Ana, Julia Santos Solomon, Vicente Telles, Pedro Terán, Ernest Charton de Treville, Moara Tupinambá, Veraguas artist, Laura Vinci, and Alberta Whittle 

Curated by Aimé Iglesias Lukin, Tie Jojima, and Edward J. Sullivan. 

 Since 2020, Americas Society, Fundación PROA, and Museo Amparo have been joining efforts to conceptualize and bring to life the Project El Dorado, resulting in a convening, as well as a series of publications and exhibitions different for each institution (Proa 2023, Amparo 2024). 

For press inquiries, contact mediarelations@as-coa.org

For general inquiries, contact art@as-coa.org.

Works in the Exhibition
Gold or Investing in Art II

Gold or Investing in Art II

La Bachué en chocolate (Chocolate Bachué)

La Bachué en chocolate (Chocolate Bachué)

Folhas avulsas # 1 e # 2 (Loose leaves #1 and #2)

Folhas avulsas # 1 e # 2 (Loose leaves #1 and #2)

Morro mundo pin (Pin world hill)

Morro mundo pin (Pin world hill)

La jaula de oro remastered (Golden cage remastered)

La jaula de oro remastered (Golden cage remastered)

Sed (Thirst)

Sed (Thirst)

Takuá

Takuá

Kuêra

Kuêra

Healing Surfaces

Healing Surfaces

Healing Surfaces

Healing Surfaces

Healing Surfaces

Healing Surfaces

Healing Surfaces

Healing Surfaces

Infinite Regress CC

Infinite Regress CC

Inner Visions (Visiones) I

Inner Visions (Visiones) I

Jamestown Mythology: Amonute

Jamestown Mythology: Amonute

Jamestown Mythology: Amonute (turquoise)

Jamestown Mythology: Amonute (turquoise)

Semillas de estrellas (Nogal) (Star seeds [Nogal])

Semillas de estrellas (Nogal) (Star seeds [Nogal])

Semillas de estrellas (Yarumo) (Star seeds [Yarumo])

Semillas de estrellas (Yarumo) (Star seeds [Yarumo])

Plan of Lima

Plan of Lima

El Dorado

El Dorado

Dinastía (Dynasty)

Dinastía (Dynasty)

el guarda meta de los cosmos (from the abyss) (Meta guardian of the cosmos [from the abyss])

el guarda meta de los cosmos (from the abyss) (Meta guardian of the cosmos [from the abyss])

Cresta

Cresta

Twelve Views in the Interior of the Guianas

Twelve Views in the Interior of the Guianas

Midas

Midas

Gold Mask

Gold Mask

The Origin of the El Dorado Legend

The Origin of the El Dorado Legend

The Origin of the El Dorado Legend

The Origin of the El Dorado Legend

Núcleo 2

Núcleo 2

Eldorado

Eldorado

Modern Art and Architecture in ColdWar Mexico (series)

Modern Art and Architecture in ColdWar Mexico (series)

Laguna de Guatavita (Guatavita lake)

Laguna de Guatavita (Guatavita lake)

Gold Flood

Gold Flood

Novus Orbis: democracia racial, melting pot e pureza de razas

Novus Orbis: democracia racial, melting pot e pureza de razas

Detail of Cathedral from the series Theories of Freedom

Detail of Cathedral from the series Theories of Freedom

Natureza morta 1 (Still life 1)

Natureza morta 1 (Still life 1)

Nuestra Señora del Buen Viaje (Our Lady of Good Voyage)

Nuestra Señora del Buen Viaje (Our Lady of Good Voyage)

The Spanish Are Fed Liquid Gold

The Spanish Are Fed Liquid Gold

Balboa and His Men Quarrel Over Gold

Balboa and His Men Quarrel Over Gold

Local da ação no 01 (Place of action no 01)

Local da ação no 01 (Place of action no 01)

The Spanish Are Fed Liquid Gold

The Spanish Are Fed Liquid Gold

Olintepeque, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, from Tonatiuh Series

Olintepeque, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, from Tonatiuh Series

San Juan Comalapa, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, from Tonatiuh Series

San Juan Comalapa, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, from Tonatiuh Series

Gold in the Morning

Gold in the Morning

Gold in the Morning

Gold in the Morning

Gold in the Morning

Gold in the Morning

San Pedro Jocopilas, Quiché, Guatemala, from Tonatiuh Series

San Pedro Jocopilas, Quiché, Guatemala, from Tonatiuh Series

Untitled

Untitled

El salto (The jump)

El salto (The jump)

Mirages (Espejismos)

Mirages (Espejismos)

Mirages (Espejismos)

Mirages (Espejismos)

Mirages (Espejismos)

Mirages (Espejismos)

Mirages (Espejismos)

Mirages (Espejismos)

Female Figure Holding Poporos

Female Figure Holding Poporos

Gold or Investing in Art II
La Bachué en chocolate (Chocolate Bachué)
Folhas avulsas # 1 e # 2 (Loose leaves #1 and #2)
Morro mundo pin (Pin world hill)
La jaula de oro remastered (Golden cage remastered)
Sed (Thirst)
Takuá
Kuêra
Healing Surfaces
Healing Surfaces
Healing Surfaces
Healing Surfaces
Infinite Regress CC
Inner Visions (Visiones) I
Jamestown Mythology: Amonute
Jamestown Mythology: Amonute (turquoise)
Semillas de estrellas (Nogal) (Star seeds [Nogal])
Semillas de estrellas (Yarumo) (Star seeds [Yarumo])
Plan of Lima
El Dorado
Dinastía (Dynasty)
el guarda meta de los cosmos (from the abyss) (Meta guardian of the cosmos [from the abyss])
Cresta
Twelve Views in the Interior of the Guianas
Midas
Gold Mask
The Origin of the El Dorado Legend
The Origin of the El Dorado Legend
Núcleo 2
Eldorado
Modern Art and Architecture in ColdWar Mexico (series)
Laguna de Guatavita (Guatavita lake)
Gold Flood
Novus Orbis: democracia racial, melting pot e pureza de razas
Detail of Cathedral from the series Theories of Freedom
Natureza morta 1 (Still life 1)
Nuestra Señora del Buen Viaje (Our Lady of Good Voyage)
The Spanish Are Fed Liquid Gold
Balboa and His Men Quarrel Over Gold
Local da ação no 01 (Place of action no 01)
The Spanish Are Fed Liquid Gold
Olintepeque, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, from Tonatiuh Series
San Juan Comalapa, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, from Tonatiuh Series
Gold in the Morning
Gold in the Morning
Gold in the Morning
San Pedro Jocopilas, Quiché, Guatemala, from Tonatiuh Series
Untitled
El salto (The jump)
Mirages (Espejismos)
Mirages (Espejismos)
Mirages (Espejismos)
Mirages (Espejismos)
Female Figure Holding Poporos
Installation views of El Dorado Myths of Gold, Part I, at Americas Society. Photographs Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez

Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
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Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Photo: Arturo Sanchez
Press
Funders

The presentation of El Dorado and related programming has been made possible by generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts, Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Charitable Foundation, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional support was provided by Furthermore: a program of the J. M. Kaplan Fund.

Americas Society thanks Fundación PROA in Buenos Aires and Museo Amparo in Puebla for their collaboration in this project. 

Americas Society acknowledges the generous support from the Arts of the Americas Circle members: Amalia Amoedo, Almeida e Dale Galeria de Arte, Estrellita B. Brodsky, Virginia Cowles Schroth, Emily A. Engel, Isabella Hutchinson, Carolina Jannicelli, Diana López and Herman Sifontes, Antonio Murzi, Gabriela Pérez Rocchietti, Marco Pappalardo and Cintya Poletti Pappalardo, Carolina Pinciroli, Erica Roberts, Patricia Ruiz-Healy, Sharon Schultz, and Edward J. Sullivan.