Japanese artist slams US Homeland Security for unauthorized use of artwork

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is once again under fire for using an artist’s work without permission.

Known for his dreamlike tropical landscapes and city pop–inspired aesthetics, Japanese graphic designer Hiroshi Nagai condemned the agency after it posted one of his pieces on New Year’s Day.

アメリカ国土安全保障省に許可なく絵が使われていますどうしたものか https://t.co/t7GEtGTD3v

— 永井博(Hiroshi Nagai) (@hiroshipj) January 2, 2026

The post in question featured Impender Beach, a piece from Nagai’s celebrated Beachcomber series.

But in the DHS post, the image was paired with an alarming message: “America After 100 Million Deportations.”

A caption added, “The peace of a nation no longer besieged by the third world,” reframing Nagai’s peaceful tropical scene into a political statement.

Responding on X, Nagai expressed his dismay over the unauthorized use, writing, “The image is being used without permission from the US Department of Homeland Security. What should I do?”

This is not the first time DHS has faced scrutiny for repurposing artwork without approval. They have used music from popular artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter, who have explicitly pushed back at the use of their work as propaganda.

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