Making Art in a Time of Cultural War
Today, we're witnessing troubling events; attacks on cultural institutions, attempts to erase complex histories, and the silencing of immigrant voices. Recent actions by the Trump administration including an executive order targeting Smithsonian funding for programs that contain a “divisive, race centered ideology” remind us that cultural heritage and historical truth remain contested grounds. Art is a powerful tool in the struggle for the hearts and minds of a population and art must rise to the challenge, resisting through creativity and expression.
President Donald Trump’s executive order assigns Vice President JD Vance, a member of the Smithsonian's Board of Regents, to oversee efforts to eliminate what it calls “improper ideology” across the Smithsonian’s museums, educational and research centers, and even the National Zoo.
It also raises the possibility of reinstating monuments, including some honoring Confederate figures, that were removed following the 2020 killing of George Floyd and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, which Trump and many conservatives have opposed. The Department of the Interior has been tasked with reviewing any removals or changes to public monuments since January 2020 that may reflect what the administration deems a partisan or distorted view of American history.
Additionally, the order calls for upgrades to Independence Hall in Philadelphia ahead of the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026. Trump specifically criticized the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the forthcoming Women’s History Museum, and the American Art Museum.
The level of scrutiny and political effort directed at these cultural institutions reveals something essential: art and culture matter. They shape how we understand our past, imagine our future, and define who belongs in our national story. My work engages directly with these critical questions, exploring the contested terrain of memory, identity, inclusion, and the power of representation.
This piece captures a young girl surrounded by dandelions, symbolizing dreams and wishes of immigrant youth facing uncertainty.
Another artwork portrays laborers working beneath a vibrant sun, honoring the immense yet often unseen contributions immigrants continuously make to our society.
A still-life featuring a coffee pot alongside radical feminist and social justice literature illustrates how education and intellectual engagement can be powerful acts of resistance.
Finally, the portrait of a woman standing confidently between flags of her dual identities, Mexican and American, symbolizes the strength found in embracing cultural complexity and challenging simplistic narratives.
We must continue to create, challenge, and resist.
Thank you for supporting art that fights back.
Keywords: art resistance, immigration art, cultural politics, political art, social justice, Latinx artist, resilience art, Smithsonian
