Fairfield University Art Museum has received a $15,000 grant from CT Humanities to support a 2026 exhibition titled *For Which It Stands…*, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States. The show will run from January 23 to July 25, 2026, featuring 75 works by diverse artists from the early 20th century to the present, all centered on depictions of the American flag. Highlights include Childe Hassam’s *Italian Day, May 1918* (lent by the Art Bridges Foundation), a new textile sculpture by Maria de Los Angeles, and works by Jasper Johns, Faith Ringgold, Robert Rauschenberg, Shepard Fairey, and Julie Mehretu. Loans come from private collections, artists, galleries, and institutions such as the Yale University Art Gallery, the Gordon Parks Foundation, and the Orlando Museum of Art.
The exhibition matters because it uses the American flag as a lens to examine contested narratives of justice, representation, and unity during a major national anniversary. By including artists who challenge traditional patriotic imagery, the show aligns with CT Humanities’ goals of “telling inclusive stories” and “for the common good,” encouraging public dialogue about democracy and civic institutions. The grant underscores a growing trend of humanities funding supporting exhibitions that address historical exclusion and contemporary social issues through visual art.