June 22, 2026 - June 25, 2027

The Vilcek Foundation unveils Danh Võ: Rebuilding Liberty, an exhibition highlighting creations by Vietnamese-born Danish artist Danh Võ from his celebrated We The People series (2011-2016), together with Live Free or Die (2026), a fresh sculptural installation made for the show. Opening June 22, 2026, the presentation aligns with the 250th anniversary of American independence and the foundation's 25th year.

Bringing together broken elements of the Statue of Liberty and reworked American flags, the display considers how national emblems evolve across eras, places, and political shifts. Through sculpture and installation, Võ probes themes of migration, democracy, identity, and inclusion that define modern American experience.

At the core stand three works from the We The People series, a vast endeavor where the artist recreated the Statue of Liberty at full size via classic repoussé methods. Like Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi's 19th-century original, Liberty Enlightening the World, thin copper sheets were shaped by hammering from behind to form raised areas, then joined into over 300 distinct parts.

Yet unlike the complete original, Võ's project was never meant to stand whole. Designed in Germany and produced in Shanghai, We The People was sent to museums, organizations, and public spaces around the globe. By breaking it apart and spreading the pieces, Võ turns a familiar emblem of liberty into an open, unfinished shape ready for new meanings.

On view are We The People (detail) #DVW211.C8.1, a sizable section from the statue's drapery near its base; We The People (detail) #DVW211.O9, retaining clear traits from the face such as the eye and nearby lines; and We The People (detail) #DVW211.F9, a broad drapery piece from the figure's middle below the arm holding the tablet. Shown alone, these elements move between abstract and representational forms, highlighting joints, welds, numbers, and signs of handwork usually hidden in the full monument.

The show also debuts Live Free or Die (2026), a new sculptural setup made of piled American ash logs and 13 steel stars shaped like the American flag. Created for this exhibition, the piece builds on Võ's ongoing study of nationalism, movement, and political signs.

Visitors will also see a smaller version of Liberty Enlightening the World. Placed near Võ's broken pieces, it gives a clear reference to the whole monument and highlights the changes in his take on the famous shape.

"The Statue of Liberty and the American flag are emblems most people believe they understand," notes Rick Kinsel, President of the Vilcek Foundation. "Danh Võ lets us view them anew, not as unchanging symbols but as items formed by history, migration, memory, and daily life."

Born in Vietnam and raised in Denmark after his family left following the Vietnam War, Võ looks at migration, colonial pasts, and national identity in his art. Danh Võ: Rebuilding Liberty extends the Vilcek Foundation's work supporting immigrant creators and sparking talks on migration, cultural sharing, and personal identity. Started in 2000 by Jan and Marica Vilcek, immigrants from former Czechoslovakia, the foundation highlights immigrant roles in arts, sciences, and culture across the United States.

Exhibition Information
Danh Võ: Rebuilding Liberty
June 22, 2026 - June 25, 2027
Vilcek Foundation
21 East 70th Street
New York, NY 10021

Entry is free with prior sign-up. Guests may book timed visits via the Vilcek Foundation site. A free digital audio tour for the exhibition will be offered through Bloomberg Connects, the no-cost arts and culture app.

Press Preview
The press preview occurs on Monday, June 22, at 1:00 p.m. Journalists interested may sign up via the listed contact. Access is limited to verified media and confirmed by the press team.

For more details, reach out to the provided contact.

About Danh Võ
Danh Võ was born in Vũng Tàu, Vietnam, in 1975 and grew up in Denmark after his family departed Vietnam after the Vietnam War. Working in sculpture, installation, photography, and found items, Võ studies how personal stories meet larger political and historical threads. His pieces often address migration, colonialism, national identity, and how cultural symbols travel globally. Võ has shown widely at venues including the Venice Biennale, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.

The Vilcek Foundation promotes awareness of immigrant roles in the United States and builds appreciation for the arts and sciences overall. Since its start in 2000 by Jan and Marica Vilcek, the foundation has given more than $17 million in prizes and grants to advance this goal.

The Vilcek Foundation operates as a private foundation, a tax-exempt nonprofit under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Learn more at vilcek.org.

Contact
Eana Kim
The Vilcek Foundation
212-472-2500
Listed email

SOURCE The Vilcek Foundation