Pledges of Allegiance

In partnership with The Commons, the Spencer Museum of Art presents the nationwide public art project Pledges of Allegiance, commissioned by Creative Time, a New York–based public arts non-profit. The project is a serialized commission of 16 flags, each created by an acclaimed artist to reflect the current political climate. 

The project began on Flag Day in June 2017 and will run through July 2018. The Commons and the Spencer Museum of Art partnered to host the project at the University of Kansas, beginning with the sixth flag Imagine Peace by multi-media artist Yoko Ono. All flags will go on display outside The Commons at Spooner Hall at 14th St and Jayhawk Blvd.

Flags for Pledges of Allegiance are being hoisted in partnership with institutions across the nation. Each flag addresses an issue that the artist is passionate about and speaks to how the country might move forward collectively. Creative Time explains that the project “aims to inspire a sense of community among cultural institutions.” Current partners in the project include the Rhode Island School of Design Museum, Cornell’s Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, among others.

Participating artists include Tania Bruguera, Alex Da Corte, Jeremy Deller, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Ann Hamilton, Robert Longo, Josephine Meckseper, Marilyn Minter, Vik Muniz, Jayson Musson, Ahmet Ögüt, Yoko Ono, Trevor Paglen, Pedro Reyes, Rirkrit Tiravanija, and Nari Ward.

The Spencer Museum and The Commons will offer a series of programs to explore the themes raised by the project, and the community is encouraged to attend the raising of each new flag, which will be announced in advance.

Support for this project comes from private funding.

Read our joint message with The Commons about our commitment to this project.