Fairfield University Art Museum to open landmark exhibition For Which It Stands… on January 23, Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the United States

For Which it stands at Fairfield art museum in Fairfield Connecticut — Image via Fairfield Art Museum

The Fairfield University Art Museum will open a major loan exhibition on January 23, 2026, as part of the University’s celebration of the 250th anniversary—semiquincentennial—of the United States. Titled For Which It Stands…, the show will run through July 25, 2026, and will explore defining moments in U.S. history and culture through 75 artworks featuring the image of the American flag.

Spanning the early 20th century to the present, the exhibition brings together works from diverse artists who have used the flag to question, challenge, and honor the ideals of the nation. From Childe Hassam’s Italian Day, May 1918 — on loan from the Art Bridges Foundation — to a newly commissioned textile sculpture by Maria de Los Angeles, For Which It Stands… examines how one of the most recognizable symbols in the world can embody celebration, critique, hope, and pain simultaneously.

Works by renowned artists including Jasper Johns, Faith Ringgold, Robert Rauschenberg, Shepard Fairey, and Julie Mehretu prompt viewers to consider who the American flag represents—and who has historically been left out. Additional pieces by Emma Amos, Eric Fischl, Glenn Ligon, and many others reflect the complexities, contradictions, and multitudes within the American story.

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Loans for the exhibition come from private collectors, artists, galleries, and institutions across the country, including the Forge Art Project, Columbia University Avery Library, Delaware Museum of Art, The Mattatuck Museum of Art, Bridgeport Public Library, Gordon Parks Foundation, Orlando Museum of Art, Westport Public Art Collections, Yale University Art Gallery, the State of Connecticut’s CT Artists Collection, and the Fairfield University Art Museum’s own holdings.

“This exhibition is an opportunity for all of us to examine the narratives that have shaped our country, particularly those that have been overlooked or challenged,” said Carey Mack Weber, executive director of the Fairfield University Art Museum and exhibition curator. “Through these artworks, we invite visitors to engage deeply with the pressing issues of justice, representation, and unity—issues that are as relevant today as they were when our nation was founded.”

A Commemoration Rooted in Inclusive American History

For Which It Stands… aligns with the guiding themes of Connecticut’s CT 250 initiative, particularly “telling inclusive stories” and “for the common good.” The state’s framework acknowledges that many groups — including women, free and enslaved African Americans, Indigenous peoples, immigrants, people with disabilities, and the poor — were historically excluded from full participation in American life. The exhibition takes up that challenge by centering a wide range of artistic voices from 1918 to today, offering a more complete, more honest, and more human portrait of the nation.

The exhibition is supported by Connecticut Humanities, Art Bridges, Maximilian E. & Marion O. Hoffman Foundation, Inc., and Aquarion Water. WSHU and the Westport Journal are media sponsors.

Public Programs and Opening Events

A robust slate of programming will accompany the exhibition. All events are free and open to the public.

Opening Night Lecture — For Which It Stands…

Thursday, January 22, 5:30 p.m.
Quick Center for the Arts, Kelley Theatre & livestream
Aaron Weinstein, PhD (Assistant Professor of Politics and Exhibition Faculty Liaison) will explore the evolving role of the American flag in America’s “civil religion” and how its meaning shifts across political and cultural contexts.

Opening Reception — For Which It Stands…

Thursday, January 22, 6:30 p.m.
Quick Center for the Arts Lobby and Walsh Gallery
The Bellarmine Hall Galleries will also be open for viewing.

Short Film Screening — Reclaim the Flag (2025)

Monday, January 26, 7:30 p.m.
Quick Center for the Arts, Kelley Theatre
Followed by a panel discussion with filmmaker Alexis Bittar, professors Luchina Fisher and Sean Edgecomb, and Yale scholar Shane Vogel.
Co-sponsored with the Quick Center and the Arts Institute.

Art in Focus — Childe Hassam, Italian Day, May 1918 (1918)

Thursday, February 12 — 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.
Bellarmine Hall Galleries & livestream

Lecture — The Soiling of Old Glory: The Story of a Photograph That Shocked America

Thursday, March 19, 5:30 p.m.
Dolan School of Business Event Hall & livestream
Historian Louis P. Masur will discuss Stanley Forman’s iconic 1976 photograph — a print of which will be included in the exhibition — and the racial tensions captured at the height of Boston’s school desegregation crisis.

Plan your visit

For Which It Stands…
January 23 – July 25, 2026
Fairfield University Art Museum

All programs are free and open to the public.

For schedule details and livestream links, visit:fairfield.edu/museum/for-which-it-stands/

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November events at Fairfield Theatre Company

November at Fairfield Theatre Company is packed with a diverse lineup of events, from live music and tribute shows to film and community gatherings. Highlights include Kelsey Waldon on November 1, Color Me Obsessed: A Film about The Replacements and The Monet plays Jamiroquai on the 2nd, Heather Maloney & Dan Rodriguez on the 4th, Brian Dolzani as the Loner: The Music of Neil Young on the 6th, and the FTC Encore Gala on the 8th. The month also features performances by Zoso, Paul Bogaev, Mike Farris, Tropidelic, Black Flag, Mary Fahl, Shemekia Copeland, Marshall Crenshaw, The Jayhawks, and more, including multi-night appearances from Reid Genauer Soloand festive events like Funksgiving. With something for every taste, November at FTC offers music, film, and seasonal celebrations for the whole community.

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11/28 – Jake Swamp & The Pine
11/28 – Mullett
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Click here for more information & order tickets.

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Fairfield University Art Museum to open landmark exhibition For Which It Stands… on January 23, Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the United States