ollowing independence in the early 19th century, Latin American nations embarked on the quest to define their identities. Although linked by the common experience of colonization, the new nations represented widely diverse cultures and mixed heritages. During the 19th and 20th centuries, Latin American artists actively engaged in helping to define local, national, and continental identities, and often served at the forefront of social and political change. They reinterpreted European models in response to their own unique circumstances and also drew inspiration from indigenous art traditions in the Americas. In many instances, the ancient and the avant-garde continue to blend in unexpected and powerful ways in Latin American art. The Latin American Art Center of the San Antonio Museum of Art has a growing collection of works by artists who have played important roles in Latin American modernism. While the current collection does not represent the full range of modern Latin American art, it does provide an entry point into this complex and exciting area of world art.