John Sims, artist who confronted American racism, dies at 54

John Sims, an influential artist known for his work addressing racism in America, has died at 54. Based in Sarasota, Florida, he famously reimagined the Confederate flag using vibrant colors that symbolize Black liberation and abstract art. His project began in the late 1990s during protests against the flag in South Carolina's state capital. Sims exhibited his art in major cities like New York, Detroit, and San Francisco, even using it to create a powerful Memorial Day event where he burned and buried the flag. Besides his artistic pursuits, he taught visual mathematics at Ringling College of Art and Design. Notably, he altered bumper stickers at a KKK rally in 2001 and was briefly detained by police in 2021 during a raid connected to his project A Near Death Residency: Reflections of a Black Artist/Space. He also hosted an annual event for Valentine's Day called SquareRoot of Love.