Masks in the Oceanic continent present a great variety of forms, materials, and meanings influenced by the enormous diversity of cultures, some native to the islands of Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia, and others that emerged as a result of colonization, mainly by the English. Masks in Oceania had an exclusively religious function in the life of all peoples.

Like the rest of artistic productions, formal and stylistic diversity was determined by the materials of each region and their religious rituals, as well as by contact with other peoples in the area.

The Papua people of New Guinea wove masks from wicker for use in war rituals. In initiations, on the other hand, they combined wood, shells, animal hair, and basketry.

Designs ranged from schematization to monstrous deformation for specific purposes. Funeral masks were generally made with human skulls and vegetable fibers braided with hair.