National Pride (and Prejudice)

Works by artists who tackle issues of national identity.

The American Flag, Stonehenge, Chairman Mao Zedong: instantly recognizable, powerful symbols of the nations that produced them. But what instills pride in one citizen may be a call to protest for another, or may represent a complex combination of thoughts and feelings. The seven works in this installation take a critical look at such images to spark dialogue around provocative issues of national identity. They challenge long-held assumptions about these symbols with a combination of humor, beauty and biting commentary, highlighting the close link between politics and contemporary art. A new acquisition, Jeremy Deller’s off-the-wall video portrait of British culture, English Magic (2013), is accompanied by works by Dave Cole, Burhan Dogançay, Matthew Day Jackson, Lyle Ashton Harris, Catherine Opie and Stan Nanchez.

Above: Still from English Magic (2013) by Jeremy Deller. Museum purchase with funds donated by Judith and Douglas Krupp in honor of Lizbeth and George Krupp. Courtesy the artist and Gaven Brown’s Enterprise. Copyright the artist.