Guns in American Art: A Material Culture Approach to Understanding Firearms and Society

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  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 14

Abstract

Guns are deeply embedded in American history, identity, and politics, making them a rich subject for artistic representation. This project explores how firearms have been depicted in American art over time, using a material culture approach to uncover shifting social meanings and historical patterns. I collaborated with faculty in art history and museum studies to examine images of guns across multiple artistic mediums—from early American painting and literature to contemporary photography and social media. Art is a mirror of gun culture, and the intersection of art and firearms reveals much about American values, anxieties, and ideological divides. In early American history, guns were often depicted as symbols of survival, independence, and conquest. By the mid-20th century, however, artistic portrayals of firearms reflected increasing social unrest, political movements, and cultural anxieties about violence and power. From Warhol’s "Guns" series to public installations like JR’s "The Gun Chronicles" (2018), artists have used gun imagery to critique, glorify, or question America's relationship with firearms. I expand the lens by studying the engraving of firearms as an art form. This led to an unexpected discovery: a group of women engravers, the Lady Sharpshooters, who gather annually to refine their craft. Their work challenges mainstream narratives about women and guns, illustrating an alternative form of firearm-related artistic expression that transcends policy debates. Material culture theory can bridge the gap between history, art, and gun studies, making the topic accessible to broader audiences. We gain insight into the evolving social and cultural meanings of firearms in American life by examining artistic representations of guns—whether in museum collections, advertising, or contemporary installations. This research demonstrates how interdisciplinary collaborations can enrich the study of firearms in society.

Author

• Margaret S. Kelley, University of Kansas