On view June 30 - August 3, 2026
Pax Americana - Massachusetts State House (2026)
Pax Americana is a speculative public art series. Through a collection of aluminum signs, a fictional narrative emerges in which the United States has annexed Canada—echoing President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to absorb Canada as the 51st state after taking office in 2025. Pax Americana is meant to serve as a dark warning, inviting contemplation on the fragility of democracy and nationhood.
In the third iteration of the series, 16 plaques have been created for the Massachusetts State House in Boston.
Read more about the Boston installation in CBC Arts.
Read more about the series: The New York Times, CBC Arts, Canadian Geographic, The Toronto Star, the CBC, Le Devoir, The Conversation, Toronto Today and Reddit.
*View the plaques installed across Canada here.
*View the plaques installed at Western University here.
*Support the project here.
The Legal Battle for the Cup, 2026, 12 x 16", laser-engraved Durablack.
"The 2035 Stanley Cup Finals featured the Boston Bruins against the Vancouver Canucks. A series of dubious calls, culminating in the infamous "Fists in the Crease" overtime incident, resulted in a Vancouver victory.
In a heartening display of bipartisan cooperation, both parties in the Massachusetts Legislature moved to overturn the result. Lawmakers argued that multiple Canucks players had competed in the United States without valid work authorization during the constitutional limbo between Canada's surrender and its formal annexation on August 27, 2035.
The Legislature unanimously declared the series invalid. While some parts of the state of Canada continue to recognize the events now known as the "West Coast Fix," Massachusetts has determined that the 2035 Stanley Cup belongs to Boston. The ruling is considered a landmark in the fight to protect American labor from illegal workers."
The Bacon Hill Maple Tree Massacre, 2026, 12 x 16", laser-engraved Durablack.
"Canada's merger with the United States in 2035 triggered a massive outflow of citizens from the 51st state. Thousands moved south to cities including Boston, with the historic Beacon Hill neighborhood proving especially magnetic. Bostonians began referring to the area as Bacon Hill, after the newcomers' fondness for their ancestral breakfast meat.
While many Americans welcomed these new neighbors, the strangeness of Canadian culture unsettled others. The language barrier – overuse of "sorry," "eh," and "aboot" —hampered true integration. Rumors spread that these "New Americans" were working to undermine the Union from within: any apparent niceness was subterfuge, any politeness an affectation.
Frustration boiled over on the night of July 1, 2038. A contingent gathered in front of the Massachusetts State House and began targeting those suspected of having northern origins. Unable to distinguish Americans from Canadians, the rioters turned instead on the maple trees (Acer saccharum) in Boston Common. Seen as hated symbols of a former nation, several trees were felled that night. Shortly thereafter, the City of Boston mandated the removal of the rest of the offending trees, replacing them with American elms (Ulmus americana)."
Harvard Community College Enrollment Offices, 2026, 12 x 16", laser-engraved Durablack.
"Financially crippled by skirmishes with the fourth Trump administration and increasingly misaligned with its customers, Harvard University was forced into bankruptcy in 2039.
In 2040, the university was acquired by Weston Food Logistics Solutions, a Canadian corporation best known for groundbreaking advances in bread price-fixing. Under the stewardship of Harvard alumnus Galen Weston, the school rebranded as Harvard Community College.
Weston began his tenure with a series of aggressive campaigns targeting alternative demographics. Popular slogans included "Why Pay More? Harvard: The People's Ivy™," "Don't Let the Name Intimidate You," and "Drive Your Own Car: Your Journey Starts in the Yard," in partnership with Uber WorkforceReady™.
This plaque commemorates one of the original enrollment offices, located on this site from 2041-2056."
The Dangerous Separation of Church and Steak, 2026, 12 x 16", laser-engraved Durablack.
"Following America's successful annexation of Canada in 2035, several policy institutes concluded that Canada's rapid collapse could be attributed to two vulnerabilities: the absence of Christianity in public life and low per-capita beef consumption. Studies suggested that secularism and protein ambiguity, especially when combined, produce a weak and passive population.
Determined to keep morale and testosterone high across all 51 states, President Ivanka Trump signed the Beef and Belief Act into law in 2042. Though meat prices continued to rise throughout the 2040s, government analysts attributed this increase to the malign influence of urban atheists, radical vegan governors, Mexican bean cartels, and the lingering effects of the soy-funded Obama administration.
As affordability worsened, policymakers began exploring new forms of faith-based meat distribution. In one popular initiative, the Roman Catholic Church partnered with private equity to develop the Church'N'Steak franchise system. The chain became known for its subsidized food program and its slogan: "One Sermon, One Baked Potato."
Church'N'Steak quickly established itself as a Massachusetts institution, perhaps best remembered today as the restaurant featured in Ben Affleck's final film, Here's the Beef."
Project Homecoming Filming Location (Massachusetts State House), 2026, 12 x 16", laser-engraved Durablack.
"Released in 2038, Project Homecoming, the flag-waving rock musical,. tells the tale of Tommy Kazansky (Ryan Reynolds), America's favorite ICE agent, and his lovable sidekick, a K-9 patrol dog named Payback. Armed with charisma and a keytar, the two crisscross the country reminding illegals that everyone belongs somewhere – just not here.
Standing in for an ICE detention center, the Massachusetts State House served as a backdrop for two memorable musical numbers in the film. The first, "The Hills Are Alive (With the Sound of Migrants)," was a duet between Reynolds and Payback.
The second, "Don't Cry, You'll Be Home Tomorrow," was a power ballad sung by Reynolds and backed by the Guantánamo Bay Glee Club, the product of a Pentagon-funded arts initiative intended to bridge the gap between counterterrorism and family entertainment."
Revolutionary War Apology Society, 2026, 12 x 16", laser-engraved Durablack.
"Founded in 2036, the Revolutionary War Apology Society (RWAS) gathers monthly at this site in the spirit of accountability and ongoing reconciliation to acknowledge the harms arising from British imperial governance. Composed primarily of former Canadians, proceedings begin with the recitation of prepared statements concerning acts of colonial violence, taxation without representation, and related injustices perpetrated against the American people.
RWAS further recognizes and apologizes for historical patterns through which British North America and its successor, Canada, disproportionately benefited from American military protection, economic integration, and continental stability. Members affirm their commitment to a continued process of listening and learning. A commemorative tea service follows, generously hosted by Food Bloggers for Peace."
It's Me, Maddy!, 2026, 12 x 16", laser-engraved Durablack.
"Recognizing that youth activism and civic engagement are of central importance to the future of the nation, the Massachusetts State House partnered with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2028 to create a digital platform to help younger generations participate meaningfully in social change. MADDY, named in honor of James Madison, took inspiration from his belief that "the advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty."
Studies showed that real-life protest comes with unnecessary complexities, including inclement weather, the discomfort of talking to strangers, and a general sense of futility.
MADDY was designed to remove these frictions, delivering a streamlined experience perfectly optimized for comfort, safety, and maximal virtue-signaling. Proudly American-owned, the platform eliminates potential triggers, unclear messaging, and harmful new ideas, ensuring productive activism for a better tomorrow.
More adventurous users are encouraged to leave their homes and gather at government-approved sites like this one to scroll together with other young changemakers. These organized events, known as Youth Activist Scroll Sessions (YASS), foster inclusion, belonging, and consensus."
The Bobby Orr Institute for Celebrity Endorsements, 2026, 12 x 16", laser-engraved Durablack.
"Faced with foreign interference, fake news, and civic fatigue, Americans need credible sources now more than ever. No one should be expected to navigate Big Ideas without the assistance of a trusted celebrity.
Founded in 2034, the Institute is named in honor of Bobby Orr, a great Boston Bruin and a model immigrant. Orr showed remarkable courage in 2020 when he stood up for President Donald Trump and was subjected to a ruthless terror campaign from malcontents in the formerly independent nation of Canada.
These offices are devoted to advancing the principle that democracy is most effective when validated by a recognizable face. When Americans lose faith in institutions, experts, or one another, they may yet trust in the legitimacy of the red carpet."
Colonized Together Day, 2026, 12 x 16", laser-engraved Durablack.
"Laid on October 12, 2038, this plaque marks the inaugural celebration of Colonized Together Day across all 51 states. Our shared heritage is that of formerly colonized peoples, oppressed under the British Crown on both sides of the 49th parallel. In this new age of unification, let our collective grievances propel us forward together into a future shaped by one ideology: the steady extension of American greatness throughout the world."
The Anne Hutchinson Rejuvenation Project, 2026, 12 x 16", laser-engraved Durablack.
"Finding much of American history neither relevant nor aspirational, younger generations struggled to connect to the stories that had shaped the nation. In a bid to increase interest, key works of public art were updated to better align with contemporary tastes.
The statue of Anne Hutchinson, located on the State House grounds, was nominated for rejuvenation in 2039. The committee in charge of the project declared the monument to be "historically important but aesthetically cooked," adding that it was "incapable of generating engagement in high-value male viewers." Partnering with Winthrop Foundry, Hutchinson was optimized, her face recast to better reflect the Mar-a-Lago look favored by the political elite. Although the White House was not officially involved, Winthrop Foundry based Hutchinson's revised outfit on a bestselling Ivanka Trump for Kmart romper, circa 2017, which was deemed both patriotic and culturally significant."
The People's House, Divided, 2026, 12 x 16", laser-engraved Durablack.
"In 2027, in accordance with reforms included in the Drain the Swamp Act, the Massachusetts State House was divided into two parts: the People's House and the First House. The former was designed to represent the general population, while the latter served priority citizens, specifically members and affiliates of the administration, major donors, and legacy families.
The new system was intended to reduce legislative distractions for priority citizens, shielding them from politically motivated oversight and burdensome disclosure requirements.
Visitors are reminded that access to the First House remains by invitation only."
One Nation Under God and English, 2026, 12 x 16", laser-engraved Durablack.
"By the end of the 2030s, after the addition of several new and exotic territories to the United States' portfolio, it was determined that the Pledge of Allegiance needed an update. Various foreign languages still in use were seen to be creating unnecessary friction in domestic commercial enterprises, and a single linguistic framework was deemed essential. Similarly, in the face of existential threats from hostile powers, Washington concluded that manifest destiny must be reflected by a singular verbal destiny.
On Independence Day, 2041, the Pledge of Allegiance was officially modified to read: "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God and English, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
This plaque marks the federal credentialing of this building as an English-only space, certified on May 5, 2042."
Digital Checkpoint MDCCCLXVII: Expect Scrutiny, 2026, 12 x 16", laser-engraved Durablack.
"Established in 2034, Digital Checkpoint MDCCCLXVII was put in place to regulate the movement of persons and personal information. Under the careful watch of the Taskforce for the Enforcement of Electronic Freedom (TEEF), each and every checkpoint is integral to keeping America safe in a digital world.
All visitors may be subject to electronic device inspection, including the review of messages, images, contacts, and social media histories. Access to this building is contingent on cooperation.
Thank you for your help in maintaining a transparent and secure environment for everyone."
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Commemorative Sauna, 2026, 3 x 16", laser-engraved Durablack.
Lewis Frechette: A Life of Valor, 2026, 12 x 16", laser-engraved Durablack.
"Lewis Frechette joined the Department of Online Outreach (DOO) as an intern in the spring of 2026. Within three months, he was appointed director of the Canadian division (CAN-DOO). Tasked with preparing Canadians for the inevitable fracture of Confederation, Frechette worked in tandem with Chinese and Russian counterparts to coordinate digital influence campaigns in support of the growing freedom movement.
When asked by a reporter how he was able to so deeply understand the Canadian character, despite having never visited or studied the region, Frechette responded, "You can learn everything you need to know about Canada from a weekend in Buffalo.""
The Jefferson News Network, 2026, 12 x 16", laser-engraved Durablack.
"In 2041, all independent American media outlets were merged into one approved information network. Audiences welcomed the transition, as the inefficiency of having to read multiple legacy news sources was seen not only as a waste of time, but as a source of confusion.
Overseen by an algorithm named JEFFERSON – inspired by the Founding Father's maxim to "never use two words when one will do" – content was condensed into easily digestible tidbits, alleviating much of the reading burden. By 2042, in the face of irreversibly low literacy among younger generations, it was decided that none of the words used should be over six letters, with the exception of the word "America."
This plaque marks the site of a JEFFERSON News Network office, active from 2041-2044."