Latin American art is a sum of styles and eras that reflect centuries of history, cultural encounters, and social changes. It encompasses expressions from Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America, as well as works created by Latin American artists in other parts of the world. From its inception, it has served to understand the identity, spirituality, and reality of the region. Before the 16th century, indigenous cultures had already developed artistic systems. The Mayan, Aztec, and Incan civilizations