Clown make-up!? Seriously? Wow.
But as long as we are discussing it… clowns faces were meant to be able to be read from a distance. With a palette the size of a face big bold shapes are about the best you can do for the folks in the upper bleacher.
Flags also serve a symbolic purpose; important for building a sense of morale, inspiration, and identity. A visually recognizable design helps this, certainly, but merely using a high-contrast color design or designed by committee to meet the artisto-historical requirements on a checklist might not be enough to stick in hearts and minds.
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In short, they serve not just visual recognition, but brand recognition.
I’d argue that the vast majority of art falls into this category. “Functional” is a descriptive term for most art. It’s not a defining characteristic of not-art.
You wouldn’t say “architecture isn’t art, as its overriding function is to keep a roof over your head”. You wouldn’t say “lighting design isn’t art, because it’s supposed to illuminate our living and working spaces”.
That’s art right there!
There’s plenty of fun to be had with state flags:
Every state flag is wrong, and here is why
And several old SDMB threads, including Judging state flags that gave me the first link above.
Opera. Sometimes I hear an overture or aria I like so much that I track down an audio or video recording of the whole production. I’ve done it probably a dozen times over the decades, and I have always been disappointed. You get at most 15 minutes of good music from an opera that might last anything from two to four hours. And God save us from sopranos supposedly dying of consumption who can still somehow rally themselves to shatter glass–and eardrums–at a hundred paces.
I started collecting paper money recently, it’s neat how much of it is well designed. It’s kind of funny though looking at some of the currency released by Germany during the depression. It’s like they just gave up and said “meh, we’ll be releasing a new design next week”.
Korea, India and Maryland have some of the neatest flags ever.
I’ve always liked Libya’s old flag. 
Artforms that could be great but suck
Someday, someone will do a portrait of Elvis on black velvet that will astound the critics.
I’m kidding. But, seriously, I don’t see anything intrinsically wrong with the medium.
Actually, some people absolutely would. It’s the distinction between art and craft. I personally use the word loosely, but not everyone does.
OK, then paintings aren’t art, as their function is to signal the wealth and taste of their owner. Very functional indeed in some circles.