In a show of American creativity and pride, Mike Wilkins collected several vanity license plates. With these plates, he phonetically spelled out the preamble to the US Constitution in abbreviated script. Each of the fifty states and the District of Columbia is represented in alphabetical order. Though the plates rarely make sense on their own, together they re-create one of the greatest documents in American history. This work represents the meaning of the phrase “the United States” with a fun twist.
What Is This?
“Preamble“ (1987) is a famous artwork by artist Mike Wilkins. It features 51 personalized vanity license plates (one from each of the 50 states and Washington D.C.) arranged alphabetically. When read phonetically and collectively, the states spell out the famous preamble to the Constitution of the United States.
Why Was It Created?
The artwork was created to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution. Wilkins used state-specific plates—often using the abbreviations and numbers distinct to each state—to phonetically represent the words. For example, the sequence begins with Alabama to Colorado: WE TH P PUL OF TH U NI DIDD ST8S.
This artwork highlights the spirit of the U.S. motto E pluribus unum (“Out of many, one”) by showing how individual, distinct states come together to form the cohesive United States.
Seeing It In Person
If you want to see this piece in person, it is permanently housed at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., and is currently located in the Luce Foundation Center.
