Texas Law Enforcement Confiscates Stunning Artworks from Sally Mann’s Showcase

Authorities have allegedly confiscated photographs by Sally Mann from a display at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Texas, following a complaint about her work.

Mann is regarded as one of the most renowned photographers of her era. Her photography focuses on familial themes, with her most recognized images portraying children, which have garnered both praise and censure.

The images of children have ignited the dispute in Fort Worth after certain photographs were reported to local law enforcement. A report from The Dallas Express indicated that a warrant was issued and executed, leading to the removal of the images from public view and securing them as evidence. PetaPixel attempted to contact both the museum and Fort Worth police, but neither has provided a response as of the time of publication.

Mann’s artwork is part of a broader exhibition entitled Diaries of Home, which, according to the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth’s website, “features creations by women and non-binary artists who delve into the complex notions of family, community, and residence.” The exhibit showcases 13 documentary photographers, including Mann, whose work is described by the museum as “intimate and intriguing.”

Nevertheless, following a visit by a reporter from The Dallas Express, who accused the museum of “endorsing child porn,” the authorities have begun scrutinizing Mann and the museum. The online publication shared images of Mann’s work displayed in the museum that depict a naked girl leaping on a table and a boy with his genitals exposed and liquid dripping down his body.

“The images exhibited at this museum are at the very least grossly inappropriate. They ought to be removed immediately and examined by law enforcement for any potential criminal offenses. It is crucial to protect children and uphold decency,” stated Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare in a prior conversation with The Dallas Express.

Other residents from Tarrant County expressed to The Dallas Express that “pedophilia is not art,” asserting that “every adult person who endorses this, from the board to the staff, should be held accountable.”

“If this ‘artwork’ appeared on my phone, I would be arrested,” remarked Tarrant County local Kenya Alu to The Dallas Express. “Normalizing this is disturbing, and I want it to cease.”

Mann’s Photography Has Faced Scrutiny Previously

Mann is no stranger to controversy. Back in 2015, The New York Times published an article titled “The Disturbing Photography of Sally Mann,” in which the photographer disclosed that a federal attorney cautioned her that eight of her photos chosen for an exhibit could put her at risk of arrest.

However, Mann defended her position: stating in a piece that “too frequently, nudity, even that of children, is wrongly interpreted as sexuality, and images are confused with actions.”

She continued, “The representation of a child is particularly vulnerable to that sort of perceptual misinterpretation; children are not merely the innocents we wish them to be… In a culture so thoroughly committed to a belief in childhood innocence, we are understandably hesitant to confront these unsettling elements or, as I discovered, even fictional portrayals of them.”

In 2023, Jamie Lee Curtis stirred controversy after posting an image of her home where a print by American photographer Betsy Schneider was visible. The picture depicted Schneider’s daughter inside a small plastic bin filled with water, but social media users criticized the actress’s artistic preferences as “creepy” and “sick.”

Image credits: Header photo licensed via Depositphotos.