Rebellious Stripes: The American Flag in Activist Art, 1960-2025

Abstract

In the 1760s, as desire for independence fomented, revolutionary groups adopted a proto-flag dubbed the Rebellious Stripes, with vertical white and red stripes symbolizing a desire for freedom. Once the United States flag with stars and stripes was authorized in 1777, it was quickly subsumed into debates around the identity of the burgeoning nation-state and its citizens. Due to the flag’s simple and striking design, it is easily replicated, referenced, and adapted by activists across the political spectrum to suit various messages beyond ‘patriotism’. Each use of this symbol taps into our shared culture of reverence towards the flag and emotional responses towards the Stars and Stripes. Beginning in the 1960s and 70s, left-wing activists utilized the flag as both a symbol of pride and despair, illustrating the gulf between American values and the lived experiences of the American people. Since then, leftist activists have continued to use the flag as they campaign for equality, justice, pacifism, and climate protections. This paper and the related exhibition on display at the UWM Emile H. Mathis Gallery from November 24, 2025-February 20, 2026, explores activist art from the UWM Art Collection, UWM Libraries Special Collections and Archives, and UW-system faculty artists Nicolas Lampert and Tom Jones. The works included in this essay and exhibition span from the 1960s to present, and all rely on the imagery of the United States Flag to communicate sorrow and hope.