The Satanic Temple and Salem Art Gallery

The Satanic Temple and the Salem Art Gallery share a home in Salem, where the religious organization keeps its headquarters. The gallery promotes emerging and established artists through exhibitions, artist talks, special events and screenings, pairing shows with interactive projects. The Temple itself uses Satan as a symbol of the eternal rebel against arbitrary authority, and its stated mission is to encourage benevolence and empathy, reject tyrannical authority, advocate practical common sense and oppose injustice.

The organization is known for high-profile public campaigns on religious liberty and secularism. It has confronted hate groups, pushed to abolish corporal punishment in public schools, sought equal representation when religious installations go up on public property and organized after-school clubs. Recent efforts include a challenge over holiday displays at the Iowa Capitol and a lawsuit against the City of Boston over its refusal to fly the Temple’s flag at City Hall.

What to Know

• The Temple is guided by Seven Tenets covering compassion, justice, bodily autonomy, freedom and scientific understanding.
• The Satanic Temple is a separate organization from the Church of Satan, founded by Anton LaVey in the 1960s.
• The Salem location is listed for weddings and event services as well as religious gatherings.
• Its Satanic Good Works Campaign has organized a nationwide food drive.