Red White and Blue Bot reimagines the American Flag using over 20,000 meticulously preserved blue bottle flies, arranged on stretched white canvas and encased in plexiglass. Known for their association with decay and transformation, the flies add a layer of tension to the flag’s traditional symbolism of endurance, introducing themes of change and mortality.

The title, Red White and Blue Bot, hints at mimicry and artificiality, suggesting that national symbols are constructs—powerful yet composed of countless small, seemingly insignificant parts or “bots.” Displayed horizontally, almost like a relic, the flag invites viewers to see it as a preserved specimen, sparking reflections on the permanence and meaning of such symbols in modern culture. By using unconventional materials and shifting context, the piece challenges how we perceive and sustain cultural symbols as they evolve over time.

Creating Red White and Blue Bot involved a rigorous scientific process. Developing a production method to grow blue bottle flies en masse, along with preservation techniques to slow their natural decay, was essential to the final piece. This process raised ethical questions about cultivating a living organism solely as art material, adding a layer of introspection and complexity to the work itself.