Christian Nationalism’s Assault On Art And Free Thought In Fort Worth

The dangerous agenda behind the seizure of art from a Fort Worth museum.

In the late 1980s, Virginia photographer Sally Mann took intimate photographs of her family in their natural setting. She published them in a book called Immediate Family in 1992. Of the 65 photographs in the book, 13 of them showed her children in a state of undress. The book received widespread praise and outrage.

Some critics called the book “timeless and magic,” while others called it “pornographic and exploitative.” There was a backlash in the early 90s from these photographs, mainly from the Christian fundamentalists, who argued that the images sexualized children. Although the photographs depict the children in the nude, none of the pictures are sexual in nature. They are shown in their environments, playing in the dirt, climbing trees, and just being kids.

Mann defended her work as an honest portrayal of childhood innocence and vulnerability, challenging societal discomfort with the human body.

“There was no internet in those days. I’d never seen child pornography. It wasn’t in people’s consciousness. Showing my children’s bodies didn’t seem unusual to me. Exploitation was the farthest thing from my mind.”

— Sally Mann

You may be asking, “Why are we discussing an art controversy that occurred over 30 years ago?”

Sally Mann’s photographs were recently featured at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, drawing the attention of local Republican leaders. Mann is one of thirteen artists whose work is on view in the documentary exhibition, which “features works by women and nonbinary artists, who explore the multilayered concepts of family, community, and home.”

From ARTnews, here are some quotes from local Republicans:

• “There are images on display at this museum that are grossly inappropriate at best.” - Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare.

• “This is emblematic of what happens when the culture of a city is focused on growth and business only.” - Tarrant County Republican Party Chairman Bo French.

• “It is crucial that our legal framework leaves no room for predators to misuse the realm of art to display child nudity. Should any loopholes exist, we are prepared to address and eliminate them in the upcoming legislative session in Texas.” - House District 91 State Representative-elect David Lowe.

Fort Worth officials issued warrants for child pornography and have seized the photographs.

This outcry against Mann’s work is part of a broader pattern driven by Christian Nationalism. Their ideology seeks to impose a rigid moral framework on public life, often rooted in conservative Christian beliefs about family, gender, and sexuality. The same political forces that have targeted drag shows, LGBTQ+ spaces, and inclusive education are now labeling any depiction of nudity, even nonsexualized images of children, as “pornography.”

This rhetoric frames artistic expression as dangerous, fueling fear and moral panic to justify censorship. Whether one agrees with Sally Mann’s photographs or not, the seizure of artwork sets a chilling precedent for what comes next.

It’s not just about banning art. It’s about reinforcing control over cultural narratives, policing bodies, and dictating what is permissible in public spaces. This moment is an alarming escalation in the effort to suppress dissenting views and uphold a narrow, exclusionary vision of American identity.

We still haven’t learned from history.

In 1937 Nazi Germany, 740 modern works were exhibited in the defamatory show Degenerate Art in Munich to “educate” the public on the “art of decay.” These pieces were presented in a deliberately chaotic manner, accompanied by mocking labels, to incite public scorn.

As a repercussion, the Nazis confiscated over 20,000 artworks from museums and galleries, deeming them “degenerate.” Many artists fled Germany or were silenced due to this cultural purge.

Christian Nationalism is taking over our society and will dictate how you live, what you believe, and what you are exposed to.

They have banned hundreds of books on Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQ+ civil rights. They have stopped women from having the ability to receive healthcare during miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies. They have targeted non-sexual drag shows with violence and threats of violence. Now, they want to decide what art you can see.

The end goal of Christian nationalism is not freedom but conformity. When art is censored, history is rewritten, and bodies are regulated, the public loses access to the diversity of human experience and the critical thinking that comes from engaging with uncomfortable truths.

In Texas, we’re seeing this unfold in real time. Religious doctrine is seeping into public policy under the guise of “protecting children” and “preserving family values.”

It’s important to remember that the slippery slope of censorship doesn’t stop with drag shows, books, or photography. Today, it’s an exhibition at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. Tomorrow, it could mean shuttering museums that display anything deemed “inappropriate” or “subversive,” followed by raids on private collections and galleries. It could mean criminalizing not just the creation of art but the act of viewing it, turning libraries, theaters, and even your living room into potential battlegrounds for surveillance.

It could mean banning certain kinds of relationships altogether. Criminalizing cohabitation without marriage, reinstating laws against same-sex intimacy, or mandating “family purity” pledges for employment. In the name of “protecting children,” public displays of affection or even discussions about gender and sexuality could be outlawed.

If left unchallenged, Christian Nationalism will continue to shrink the space for free thought and self-expression until the only art that remains are the ones sanctioned by the far right.

History has shown us that censorship is not about protection but control. And when control is enforced under the banner of religion and nationalism, the result is not a more moral society but a more repressive one. To protect democracy and pluralism, we must push back against this cultural purge and defend the right to experience art, ideas, and histories in their full complexity, even when they make us uncomfortable.

We cannot afford to let history repeat itself. The lessons of the past demand that we resist now before the framework for dissent is dismantled.

• January 14: The 89th Legislative Session begins.

• March 14: The last day Legislators can file bills.

• June 2: The 89th Legislative Session ends.

LoneStarLeft is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Follow me on Facebook, TikTok, Threads, YouTube, and Instagram.