Abelam

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July 23, 2026

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yam mask Abelam yam mask, fibre and paint, Papua New Guinea, early to mid-20th century; in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. Height 63.5 cm.

The Abelam are a Papuan people residing in the Sepik district of New Guinea. Their artistic traditions are rich and varied, deeply connected to their ceremonial life. They are known for their impressive pyramidal ceremonial houses, which served as centers for yam growing and initiation rituals. These structures often featured large painted gables and lintels, adorned with carvings of birds and lizards, with paint considered magical by the Abelam.12

The Abelam have three distinct styles of sculpture, with major works sometimes reaching monumental sizes. Their art also includes intricate paintings, masks, and a wide array of decorated objects made from various materials. The yam is a significant crop for the Abelam, playing a central role in their rituals.23

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Oceanic art and architecture
The Sepik River regions
The art of the Abelam tribe, which lived in the Prince Alexander Mountains, was tied to a vigorous ceremonial life. It thus presents a far more spectacular scene. Their pyramidal ceremonial houses, centres for cults of yam growing and initiation, were built on the grandest scale known in New…
Read More
The art of the Abelam tribe, which lived in the Prince Alexander Mountains, was tied to a vigorous ceremonial life. It thus presents a far more spectacular scene. Their pyramidal ceremonial houses, centres for cults of yam growing and initiation, were built on the grandest scale known in New…
Read More