Global Collection: Masks of the World

May 2, 2026 – April 25, 2027

Among the most enduring forms of human expression, masks have appeared across cultures long before the advent of written language. Embedded in complex systems of belief, performance, and identity, some masks have served practical purposes, from ritual protection to shielding the wearer from environmental hazards. The UW Art Museum’s permanent collection includes more than seventy-five masks from diverse regions and cultural contexts donated over the past fifty years.  

As a site for gathering—of objects, stories, and perspectives—the museum fosters ongoing exchange between cultures, histories, and viewers. Masks are just one sub-collection of the museum’s global holdings, which include a wide range of mediums such as paintings, textiles, and sculptures. This seldom-exhibited collection invites viewers to consider the many lives of masks: as cultural agents, as works of art, and as objects continually reshaped through circulation, encounter, and interpretation.