OCTOBER 10, 2024 — In her review of the exhibition “Flags: A Group Show” at Paula Cooper Gallery, New York Times art critic Deborah Solomon, reflecting on the role of artists in times of political fervor, writes, “In this season of heightened electoral excitements, artists are patriots, too. They reclaim the lofty concept of freedom — of imaginative freedom — every morning when they wake up and think about what to make.”
According to their official website, the exhibition surveys flag-themed artworks that explore the complex emotions tied to the American flag, including ambivalent nationalism, patriotic nostalgia, and social anxiety. It features around 90 pieces spanning eight decades, showcasing how this highly politicized symbol has evolved in art.
Among the works highlighted by Solomon, Kiyan Williams, a Brooklyn-based sculptor, presents a nylon flag dipped in egg batter, cooked until crisp, and then stretched inside a steel frame. Meanwhile, Jasper Johns contributes a small piece of art: “Flag” (1958). This 3-by-4-inch drawing presents an ash-gray version of the American flag, almost resembling an abstract rectangle, offering a stark contrast to traditional depictions.
The exhibition runs from September 7 through October 26, 2024 in Chelsea, New York.
Image: David Hammon’s African American flag displayed in MoMA, by Guian Bolisay, CC BY-SA 2.0