Palais de Tokyo Warns Martinique Flag Artwork Might Violate Legal Standards

A work by American artist Cameron Rowland was removed from the facade of Paris’s Palais de Tokyo due to concerns it violated French law regarding the public display of flags. The piece, “Replacement” (2025), involved replacing the French flag with the flag of Martinique as a comment on French colonization. The museum decided its public display could contravene the “principle of neutrality” upheld by the Conseil d’État, which bans symbols advocating political, religious, or philosophical opinions on public buildings. The decision followed a memorandum from the French Ministry of the Interior amidst a crackdown on the public display of Palestinian flags. After consultations, the museum allowed the flag to hang on the exhibition’s opening day only and moved the accompanying text inside, explaining its removal. Cameron Rowland, awarded the MacArthur “Genius” grant in 2019, highlighted Martinique’s ongoing movements for liberation and equality through this artwork.