Dread Scott: The Body Politic brings together work that reflects Dread Scott’s longtime commitment to art that confronts political issues and interrogates American patriotism.
On view in the exhibition are two newly commissioned projects, as well as a selection of pre-existing works. Defending the Flag (2026) is a durational performance piece in which a veteran of the armed forces, dressed in combat fatigues, stands in front of a U.S. flag while holding a military rifle; the work crystallizes social power dynamics in the form of a charged encounter between the state and the public. The piece will be performed each week on Wednesdays from 4pm–8pm, and Saturdays from 1–5pm.
The second commissioned piece is a monumental work on canvas made up of dozens of layered body prints. Created with the participation of community members, the piece is an immense yet ethereal representation of civil society. These new pieces will be complemented by existing works, including a large-scale screenprint Imagine a World Without America (Green Land) (2025), a series of modified photographs of governmental seats of power, and a selection of pre-existing body prints.
The exhibition draws on the urgency of the present moment, inviting viewers to consider their own positions within the systems his work lays bare.
Dread Scott: The Body Politic is curated by René Morales.
Gallery 1, YBCA
Exhibition opens September 25, 2026
*Free admission for Youth, Military Personnel, and Museums for All.
Employees of other museums with current valid staff ID receive free general admission for themselves and one guest. Entry ticket must be obtained onsite at YBCA’s Ticketing desk.