Nayarit Figure Repatriated to Mexico - The Metropolitan Museum of Art

(New York, July 15, 2026)—Continuing its mission to uphold the highest standards of responsible collecting, The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced today the repatriation of a ceramic figure to Mexico. The object depicts a standing male figure and was made by Nayarit artist(s) between 100–400 CE. Thousands of related hollow ceramic effigies representing dignitaries, animals, and other subjects have been found in shaft tombs in western Mexico over the past century.

The repatriation follows new information that emerged through the ongoing investigations of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, and the Museum’s own research, which helped determine the work should be returned to Mexico.

The Met’s commitment to the stewardship of Mexican cultural heritage is built on collaboration and ongoing partnership. Last year, The Met reopened its galleries for the Arts of the Ancient Americas, as part of a multi-year renovation and reinstallation of the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing. The Museum collaborated closely with colleagues and scholars from Mexico on the project, beginning with initial international planning meetings hosted at the Museo Nacional de Antropología and the Museo Templo Mayor in Mexico City and culminating with the official opening in New York City last year. The opening day of the Rockefeller Wing saw The Met’s highest day of attendance since before the pandemic. To date, the Rockefeller Wing has welcomed over 2 million visitors from around the world.

Mexican art from ancient times to the present day is represented throughout the Museum. The Met's new wing for Modern and Contemporary art, opening in 2030, is designed by celebrated Mexican architect Frida Escobedo.

Max Hollein, The Met’s Director and CEO, said, “As a steward of the world’s shared artistic heritage, The Met is committed to upholding responsible collecting practices. We have made significant investments in our provenance research capabilities and continue to proactively review the histories of the objects in our care. I thank the experts and authorities whose work helped clarify the provenance of this object which led to its return to Mexico. I am grateful to our colleagues in Mexico for their continued collaboration and look forward to advancing the study, presentation, and appreciation of Mexican art and culture together.”

Marcos Bucio, Consul General of Mexico in New York, stated, “Today, an invaluable part of Mexico’s ancestral heritage returns to the nation and to the people whose history it embodies. This Nayarit figure is far more than an archaeological object: it is a powerful testimony to the creativity, identity, and collective memory of the peoples of ancient Mexico. Its repatriation represents an act of historical justice and cultural dignity, made possible through rigorous provenance research, responsible stewardship, and genuine international cooperation. On behalf of the Government and people of Mexico, I express our profound appreciation to The Metropolitan Museum of Art for its commitment to ethical collecting practices and to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for its steadfast work in protecting cultural heritage. This return further strengthens the bonds between Mexico and New York and reaffirms a principle that unites us: cultural heritage must be protected, studied, and preserved for the benefit of the peoples whose history it represents and of future generations.”

Lucian Simmons, The Met’s Head of Provenance, stated, “Expanding our understanding of the complex histories of the objects in The Met’s care is an ongoing and multifaceted process, requiring open dialogue and collaboration with our colleagues in Mexico and across the globe. This repatriation demonstrates the fruits of those efforts, underscoring the importance of this work and our commitment to responsible collecting practices.”

Provenance Research at The Met
Every one of the more than 1.5 million objects in The Met collection has a unique history, purpose, and context. Part of the Museum’s mission is to research and present the provenance of every object, enabling The Met to continuously expand and diversify the narratives presented in the galleries and on the website.

The Met’s provenance team—the largest dedicated team of provenance researchers of any museum in the world—works with The Met’s curators, conservators, and scientists, as well as internal and external partners, in conducting a systematic review of the provenance of the Museum’s holdings and ensuring that all objects entering the collection meet The Met’s strict collecting policies. The Met has long been a leader in the field, providing provenance information on most of our collection, with hundreds of thousands of objects available online. In recent years, these efforts have expanded the provenance of nearly 2,500 objects.

In cases where The Met learns—through its own research or from external sources—that a work should be returned to its country of origin, the Museum has a long and well-documented history of transferring works to their rightful owners. Further information on The Met’s collecting practices and activities is available online.

Cultural Heritage at The Met
One of the most critical areas of focus for The Met’s provenance research efforts is ancient art, archaeological materials, and other cultural property, including works of art from once-colonized areas. As part of its commitment to the shared stewardship of cultural heritage, The Met collaborates with countries around the world to exchange information, museological resources, collection care, object loans, and more. This collective understanding is deepened further through convenings with international experts, interpretive framing within gallery displays, and the global accessibility of research and object histories via metmuseum.org.

About The Met
The Met is currently ushering the Museum into the future by renovating one-quarter of its two-million-square-foot building on Fifth Avenue galleries. These reimagined spaces will tell new stories through the breadth of the collection, while improving visitor experience, infrastructure, and sustainability. This remarkable $1.5 billion capital campaign includes: the acclaimed Michael C. Rockefeller Wing for the arts of Africa, Oceania and the Ancient Americas (opened spring 2025); the new Condé M. Nast Galleries (opened May 10, 2026, with the inaugural exhibition Costume Art); new galleries for the Arts of Ancient West Asia and Ancient Cyprus (opening 2027); reimagined spaces for dining and retail inside a newly reactivated entrance off The Met's plaza (opening 2027); and the transformative Tang Wing for Modern and Contemporary Art (opening 2030). Learn more here.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art was founded in 1870 by a group of American citizens—businessmen and financiers as well as leading artists and thinkers of the day—who wanted to create a museum to bring art and art education to the American people. Today, The Met displays tens of thousands of objects covering 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy. The Museum lives in two iconic sites in New York City—The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters. Millions of people also take part in The Met experience online. Since its founding, The Met has always aspired to be more than a treasury of rare and beautiful objects. Every day, art comes alive in the Museum’s galleries and through its exhibitions and events, revealing both new ideas and unexpected connections across time and across cultures.

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July 15, 2026