Opening Reception: Saturday, January 10, 2026, 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Panel Discussion: Saturday, January 10, 2026, 4:00-6:00 p.m.

As political forces increasingly tighten their grip on cultural institutions, Defending Ethical Integrity: The New Degenerate Art emerges as both a rebellion and a celebration of fearless self-expression. This exhibition confronts authoritarian narratives, censorship, and the suppression of creative autonomy, asserting art’s essential role in ethical resistance and social critique. Evoking the legacy of the Nazi Party’s 1937 Degenerate Art exhibition—an effort to vilify and silence artists—this exhibition reclaims the term “degenerate” as a symbol of defiance and integrity. Featuring a diverse group of contemporary artists, Defending Ethical Integrity challenges entrenched power structures, disrupts social taboos, and amplifies voices that refuse to conform.

Participating Artists: AMBOS Project, Polly Borland, Cassils, Robert Andy Coombs, Hugo Crosthwaite, Jay Lynn Gomez, Ken Gonzales-Day, Forrest Kirk, Laurie Lipton, Elana Mann, Narsiso Martinez, Patrick Martinez, Paul McCarthy, Dakota Noot, Zak Smith, Nadya Tolokonnikova / Pussy Riot, Steven Wolkoff

Curated by the Torrance Art Museum in collaboration with Jenny Hager, Ty Pownall, and Steven Wolkoff.

Torrance Art Museum
3320 Civic Center Drive
Torrance, CA 90503

Museum Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Admission to the Torrance Art Museum is Free.