The Fort Worth Police Department has launched an investigation into decades-old photographs by Virginia-born photographer Sally Mann, which were part of the recently unveiled “Diaries of Home” exhibition at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. The exhibition was described as exploring “the multilayered concepts of family, community, and home.”
Tarrant County officials, including County Judge Tim O’Hare, raised concerns about the photos in several articles published by The Dallas Express, a conservative news website. The photos removed from the exhibit included one of Mann’s naked daughter jumping onto a picnic table and another of her son with popsicle drips running down his torso, legs, and genitals.
A sign inside the Modern warns, “This exhibition features mature themes that may be sensitive for some viewers.” Visitors to the exhibit can now see an empty wall next to three remaining Sally Mann photographs. The Fort Worth Police Department declined to release a police report on the incident, citing its right to withhold records related to alleged or suspected child abuse or neglect. Mayor Mattie Parker and several local art leaders also declined to comment on the removal of the photos.
Lauren Saba, owner of the Fort Works Art gallery, expressed understanding that Mann’s artwork might be “too extreme” for some viewers but was concerned that the local controversy is becoming politicized. Controversy around Sally Mann’s photographs dates back to the 1992 publication of her book “Immediate Family,” a collection of 60 photographs of her children taken on their Virginia farm.
Police investigate Sally Mann exhibit
A label inside the Modern gallery acknowledges earlier criticism, stating that some images were presented in isolation, becoming touchstones for debates about art and censorship. The controversy has revived in Fort Worth, fueled by articles from The Dallas Express, which accused the museum of displaying child pornography and included criticisms from state Rep. David Lowe and Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French.
“I will always be committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of society, our children,” wrote Judge O’Hare on X (formerly Twitter). Residents like Joe Goodson, president of the Texas-based Concerned Christian Citizens group, have supported the investigation, hoping it will protect children and uphold standards of decency. National attention has followed, with statements from various organizations concerned about the investigation’s impact on free speech.
A coalition of 59 groups representing artists and educators called for the investigation to cease and for Mann’s work to be displayed again. Saba hopes the allegations don’t deter people from supporting Fort Worth’s museums. The incident raises questions about how local artists will approach their work and the type of content they will feel comfortable exploring in the future.