14/10/2026
In her recent artist talk during Kunsttage Basel ’26, Morgan Ogilvie reflects on the shifting meaning of an image originally conceived to embody American ideals of liberty and welcome. Once a symbol of national aspiration, Lady Liberty becomes a point of departure for considering how our relationship to institutions and the narratives they convey has changed.
Ogilvie draws a parallel between the image’s life beyond its maker and the power of contemporary social media platforms, where the tools we create increasingly shape our own behaviour. Her painting explores the uncertainty that emerges when our creations take on a life of their own.
On view at 532 Gallery in On a Bit of Earth Which Had No Name.
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Morgan Ogilvie
Lady Liberty, 2025
Oil on canvas, 101.6 × 76.2 cm