Los Angeles Exhibit Displays Dozen Decommissioned Confederate Monuments Amid Ongoing Civil Rights Debate

A major art exhibition in downtown Los Angeles is showcasing nearly a dozen decommissioned Confederate monuments, including statues of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, relocated from public spaces where they once stood. The exhibition, running through May 2026 at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), presents these statues alongside contemporary artworks to challenge and provoke new perspectives on American history and the ongoing debates around civil rights and white supremacy. The Stonewall Jackson statue from Charlottesville has been artistically transformed into a powerful statement titled “Unmanned Drone,” symbolizing the horror of white supremacy. This show emerges amid a politically charged climate where President Trump’s administration is reinstating some Confederate monuments, intensifying cultural conflicts over these symbols. Curators emphasize the exhibition’s role in fostering dialogue about history, civil rights, and due process, reflecting unresolved national tensions. The juxtaposition of defaced statues with evocative new art aims to stimulate reflection on the legacy and future of these monuments.