The American Museum of Asmat Art (AMAA) is dedicated to expanding human understanding and promoting intercultural awareness through the preservation and exhibition of Asmat art from southwestern New Guinea.

The AMAA has one of the largest collections of Asmat art in North America with nearly 3,000 works that date from the 1960s to the present. It was originally formed by the American Crosier Father and Brothers, under the leadership of Bishop Sowada who used anthropological approaches to renew cultural traditions and encourage artistic production in Asmat. This Catholic religious Order first arrived in Asmat in 1958 and acquired objects through purchase, trade, and as gifts. In 2007, the collection was given to the University of St. Thomas to educate our community and the broader public about this region.

The museum opened in 2012 and is on the second floor of the Anderson Student Center on the St. Paul campus.

Mission and Vision

Mission

The American Museum of Asmat Art at St. Thomas engages students and the global community through preserving, exhibiting, and interpreting the art of Asmat people, in order to expand human understanding and promote intercultural awareness.

Vision

The vision of the American Museum of Asmat Art at St. Thomas is to be a preeminent teaching collection, interdisciplinary in nature and programmatically diverse, that promotes global understanding of Asmat art and culture consistent with the mission and values of the University of St. Thomas.