An Artist’s America: Toward a More Perfect Union

"An Artist’s America" will be on view at Haas Arts Library from June 8 through Nov. 8.

Artists have a long history of documenting, interrogating, and resisting American political administrations. The works in this exhibit comment on the radical roots of America and its complex history through artist books. Featured artists highlight socio-cultural, environmental, and socio-economic observations and experiences of American people.

2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and this founding document established a radical contrary to the British Crown with the key statement “all men are created equal”, which marked the beginning of a nation-state centered on freedom, self-determination, and unalienable rights. In some artist books shared here, the concept of the “American Dream” is interrogated with an exploration of the realities of governmental policy and its legacy. In others, artists document local communities to initiate conversations about America as simultaneously independent and culturally interdependent. Other themes explored are historic events and figures, democracy, public policy, citizenship, restorative justice, and border relations.

Curator: De’Ivyion "Ivy" Drew, 2025-2026 Kress Fellow in Art Librarianship, Yale University.

Please join us for a curator’s tour celebrating the opening of the exhibition “An Artist’s America: Toward a More Perfect Union” on Tuesday, June 9th from 3:30pm to 5:00pm in Haas Arts Library. Remarks will begin at 3:45pm.