American Icon: The US Flag in Art

Old Glory, reimagined: artists transform our flag over the centuries. 

Across generations, the Stars and Stripes has inspired pride, protest, and profound artistic expression. From battlefields to modern cultural movements, our flag's journey through art reveals a nation constantly redefining itself.

This installation features some 30 artworks from the late 1800s to present day, tracing how the meaning of the US flag has evolved over time. It explores what the flag represents and how people connect with it. You’ll find paintings, prints, and photographs by renowned artists like Gordon Parks, Childe Hassam, Dorothea Lange, Jasper Johns, and Faith Ringgold. 

Image credit: Neil Armstrong, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Buzz Aldrin Poses with Flag, July 20, 1969, chromogenic print, National Gallery of Art, Gift of Mary and Dan Solomon, 2018.177.26