16 Artists Create Custom Flags for Pledges of Allegiance

Creative Time has marked Flag Day, June 14, with a politically-charged new contribution to public art, called Pledges of Allegiance.

The project will feature flags designed by 16 artists. Each flag will be displayed above Creative Time's Manhattan headquarters for a month before being replaced by a new banner from the series. Creative Time hopes these flags will "inspire a sense of community among cultural institutions, and begin articulating the urgent response our political moment demands."

Marilyn Minter, RESIST FLAG, 2017

The flags individually embody an issue that is important to the artist. Marilyn Minter's contribution, which kicks off the project, depicts the word "Resist" in bold, multi-colored lettering.

"We realized we needed a space to resist that was defined not in opposition to a symbol, but in support of one, and so we created a permanent safe space for our flags to fly," said Nato Thompson, Creative Time Artistic Director. "It's our fervent hope that Pledges inspires others to join us in solidarity, flying these symbols of unity and shared identity on their own grounds and so establishing more such spaces nationwide."

Pedro Reyes, Hands On with a Vision, 2017

Pledges of Allegiance was originally conceived by Alix Browne and developed in collaboration with Cian Browne, Fabienne Stephan and Opening Ceremony. It will feature work by Tania Bruguera, Alex Da Corte, Jeremy Deller, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Ann Hamilton, Robert Longo, Josephine Meckseper, Marilyn Minter, Vik Muniz, Jayson Musson, Ahmet Ogut, Yoko Ono, Trevor Paglen, Pedro Reyes, Rirkrit Tiravanija, and Nari Ward.

There will be an online auction of Pledges of Allegiance flags at Artsy, today through June 28, and an exclusive Opening Ceremony capsule, available online. The proceeds of the auction and merchandise sale will support the project and Creative Time's art programs. For more information, visit creativetime.org.