Lena Rivera
The United States Capitol Complex in Washington, D.C., has featured prominent American artworks since 1856. Over the years, some paintings have been taken down, replaced, or damaged. One such instance of controversy involved a painting by former St. Louis high school student David Pulphus, titled Untitled #1, which depicted police officers as animals. The painting was initially removed during the 2017 Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, sparking debate between Republicans and Democrats.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | United States Capitol, Colorado State Capitol |
| Reason for removal | Themes of white supremacy, anti-police message, Confederate figures, distorted |
| People involved in the removal | Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, President Donald Trump, Republican lawmakers, Representative Lacy Clay, David Pulphus |
| Artists | Charles Schmidt, Sarah Boardman |
| Paintings replaced by | Statues of Barbara Rose Johns, Mary McLeod Bethune |
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What You'll Learn
A controversial painting by a St. Louis student was taken down
A painting by a St. Louis student, David Pulphus, was removed from the US Capitol hallway by Rep. Duncan Hunter, who claimed he was offended by the artwork's message. The painting depicted police as pigs aiming guns at protesters and was considered by many to be "anti-police". The artwork was initially selected as a winner in the annual Congressional Art Competition and was displayed among the works of 400 other winners.
The painting stirred intense scrutiny and criticism from police groups, who interpreted the artwork as divisive and not a true depiction of the shooting death of Michael Brown by a Ferguson police officer in 2014. Following the controversy, Republican lawmakers repeatedly removed the painting, and Democratic Rep. William Lacy Clay of St. Louis restored it, arguing that its removal violated his constituent's First Amendment rights. Clay defended the student's right to freedom of expression and filed a lawsuit against the Architect of the Capitol, arguing that the decision to remove the painting was unfair and unconstitutional.
The controversy surrounding the painting reflected a broader debate about the role of the US Capitol in protecting freedom of expression. Clay's office released a statement emphasizing that the rehanging of the painting represented a defence of the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of expression to all Americans. The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) also issued a statement condemning the removal of the painting, arguing that the art competition's guidelines were being abused to silence a particular political viewpoint.
The lawsuit filed by Clay against the Architect of the Capitol was ultimately dismissed as moot by the DC Circuit, as the art competition and its corresponding exhibition had ended. Despite the dismissal, the controversy surrounding the painting highlighted ongoing debates about the role of art in politics and the boundaries of free speech in the United States.
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Rules against art of a 'sensational' nature
Art has long been a medium of expression, and its censorship has been a topic of debate. The US Capitol, a place that tells the story of America, has had its fair share of controversies regarding the artwork displayed within its walls.
In 2017, a painting titled "Untitled #1" by former St. Louis high school student David Pulphus was removed from a Capitol tunnel passageway during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. The painting depicted police officers as animals and symbolically represented injustice, inequality, and unrest in Ferguson. This removal sparked a debate about the rules governing artwork displayed in the Capitol.
While the Supreme Court has held that artistic expressions are protected by the First Amendment, there are still rules and guidelines in place to maintain a certain standard and avoid controversial content. One of the key rules against art of a sensational nature in the Capitol is the prohibition of exhibits depicting subjects of contemporary political controversy or a sensationalistic or gruesome nature. This rule aims to prevent artwork that could be seen as offensive or disrespectful to certain groups or individuals, especially those serving in law enforcement or the military.
In the case of "Untitled #1," the painting's removal was justified by citing its violation of the rules set by the Congressional Art Competition and the House Office Building Commission. However, the debate surrounding its removal highlights the subjective nature of what constitutes "controversial" or "sensational" art. The interpretation of these rules can vary among individuals and political affiliations, as evidenced by the back-and-forth removal and re-hanging of the painting by different members of Congress.
The Capitol's art collection has also been criticized for themes of historical bias and white supremacy. As with many government-commissioned artworks, the paintings and sculptures in the Capitol tend to glorify their patrons while ignoring or downplaying less honorable aspects of history. This has led to calls for decolonizing the Capitol's art collection to present a more accurate and inclusive portrayal of America's story.
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The Capitol's art collection has been criticised for themes of white supremacy
The art collection in the US Capitol has been criticised for promoting white supremacy and racist stereotypes. The collection includes paintings and sculptures that depict Native Americans as inferior to white Americans and advocate cruelty and barbarism towards them. Art historians, legislators, and activists have long decried these themes and called for the decolonisation of the Capitol's art collection.
One example of a controversial painting in the Capitol is "Untitled #1" by former St. Louis high school student David Pulphus. The painting depicts police officers as animals and was deemed to violate the rules of a congressional art competition by Republican representatives. It was initially removed from a Capitol tunnel passageway during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend in 2017 but was later rehung by members of the Congressional Black Congress. The painting was then taken down again, sparking a debate about free speech and the display of controversial artwork in the Capitol.
Another example of controversial artwork in the Capitol is a series of eight large oil paintings in the Rotunda, commissioned between 1817 and 1855. These paintings depict historical events such as Columbus' landing, Henry De Soto's "discovery" of the Mississippi River, and the baptism of Pocahontas. Critics argue that these paintings ignore histories that would tarnish the reputations of their patrons and contribute to a broader narrative of white supremacy in the Capitol's art collection.
In recent years, there have been some efforts to address the Capitol's art collection's lack of diversity and inclusion. For example, in 2019, Nebraska placed a portrait statue of Chief Standing Bear in the Capitol Building's National Statuary Hall. Additionally, in 2021, the House passed a bill to remove all portraits of Confederates from public display in the Capitol, although it has not yet been considered by the Senate. However, despite these efforts, the Capitol's art collection remains largely unchanged, and activists continue to call for more comprehensive decolonisation and antiracist policies.
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A cycle of paintings was commissioned in the 1970s
The United States Capitol has been a site of public memory and national storytelling for generations. In keeping with this tradition, a major cycle of paintings was commissioned in the 1970s, spanning three corridors in the wing occupied by the House of Representatives. This addition was part of a long-running curatorial project within the Capitol that tells the story of America through art.
The project began in the 1820s and has been led almost entirely by men. Over time, some sculptures have been taken down or replaced, and new paintings have been added, reflecting the changing nature of the exhibition. The 1970s cycle of paintings is a significant contribution to this evolving artistic landscape within the Capitol.
One notable example of a painting that was removed from the Capitol is a student artwork displayed in 2016. Created by David Pulphus, a high school student from St. Louis, MO, the painting depicted a scene of protest against police violence. The artwork sparked controversy, with conservative media outlets criticising its allegorical depictions of police. Despite Representative Lacy Clay's efforts to restore the painting, it was ultimately removed due to its perceived violation of competition guidelines regarding "subjects of contemporary political controversy".
Another instance of a painting being taken down from a capitol building involves a portrait of former President Donald Trump at the Colorado State Capitol. In March 2025, Trump expressed his dislike for the portrait by artist Sarah Boardman, calling it "distorted" and requesting its removal. The portrait, commissioned by Colorado Republicans and unveiled in 2019 during Trump's first term, was removed following his social media post. This incident sparked discussions about the role of art in government buildings and the expression of political viewpoints.
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The Capitol's art has been damaged by rioters
The United States Capitol Complex in Washington, D.C., has featured prominent American artworks since 1856. The Capitol's art collection has been criticised by art historians, legislators, and activists for its themes of white supremacy. During the January 6 United States Capitol attack in 2021, rioters heavily damaged six statues and two paintings, including the Bust of Thomas Jefferson.
In 2017, a controversial painting titled "Untitled #1" by former St. Louis high school student David Pulphus was removed from a Capitol tunnel passageway. The painting depicted police officers as animals and was inspired by the 2014 civil unrest following the shooting of a black teenager by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. The Architect of the Capitol determined that the painting violated the rules of the congressional art contest that prohibited exhibits of a "sensationalistic or gruesome nature" and contemporary political controversy.
The removal of "Untitled #1" sparked debate among members of Congress. Republican members, led by Rep. Dave Reichert of Washington, argued that the artwork disrespected law enforcement and should be removed. On the other hand, Democratic members, including Rep. William Lacy Clay of Missouri, defended the artist's freedom of speech and challenged the removal. Clay and Pulphus filed a lawsuit against the Architect of the Capitol, but a federal judge rejected their attempt to reinstall the painting.
The Capitol has a long history of curatorial changes, with sculptures being taken down or replaced and new paintings commissioned to reflect the story of America as told by generations of Congressmen. While some artworks have been removed due to their controversial nature, the Capitol's art collection continues to evolve and remains a significant aspect of the Capitol's history and national storytelling.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, in June 2020, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ordered four paintings of former Confederates to be removed from the Capitol.
The removal of the paintings came in the wake of nationwide protests over the murder of George Floyd while in police custody.
Yes, in 2017, a painting by David Pulphus, a high school student from St. Louis, was removed from the U.S. Capitol. The painting had won an annual Congressional Art Competition but was later deemed to have an "anti-police" message.
