Vasari Art Codex

article policy schedule Dec 18, 2025 visibility 2 link 3 artists, 2 galleries

txst black history 101 mobile museum visit aclu challenge 1234767478

Texas State University (TXST) canceled a scheduled appearance of the Black History 101 Mobile Museum at its San Marcos campus for Black History Month 2026, prompting a First Amendment challenge from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas. The museum's founder, Khalid El-Hakim, had been invited by a campus activities director on October 13, 2025, but the invitation was rescinded on October 28 after consultation with supervisors and leadership. The ACLU's letter to TXST president Kelly Damphousse cited a 2023 Texas Senate bill banning DEI programs at public universities and the state's political climate as reasons for the cancellation, though the university denied the DEI ban was the cause.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Apr 8, 2026 visibility 8 link 1 artist

ACLU and anti-censorship group target UNT over art exhibit removal with mobile billboard

The ACLU of Texas and the National Coalition Against Censorship have deployed a mobile billboard to the University of North Texas (UNT) campus to protest the administration's removal of an art exhibition by Victor Quiñonez, known as Marka27. The show, titled “Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá,” was abruptly taken down in February after being open for only a week, with administrators later citing concerns that the artist's critiques of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could cause campus disruptions.

newspaper KERA News open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Mar 10, 2026 visibility 4 link 1 artist

Texas university's sudden cancellation of exhibition with works critical of Ice sparks censorship row

The University of North Texas (UNT) abruptly shuttered a solo exhibition by Brooklyn-based artist Victor Quiñonez just nine days after its opening at the College of Visual Art & Design Gallery. The show, titled "Ni de Acquí," featured sculptures from the artist’s "I.C.E. Scream" series, which utilizes Mexican popsicle motifs to critique the enforcement tactics of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Following the closure, university staff covered the gallery windows with brown paper and terminated the loan agreement with Boston University without providing a detailed public explanation.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Feb 20, 2026 visibility 7

“Flagrant Act of Censorship”: NCAC & ACLU of Texas Call Out UNT Over Gallery Shutdown

The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) and the ACLU of Texas have issued a formal challenge to the University of North Texas (UNT) following the abrupt closure of an exhibition by artist Victor “Marka 27” Quiñonez. The show, titled 'Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá', featured works exploring Latin American identity and immigration, including pieces critical of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Shortly after opening, the university shuttered the gallery, covered the windows, and terminated the artist's loan agreement without providing a clear explanation.

newspaper National Coalition Against Censorship open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Sep 23, 2025 visibility 1 link 2 artists, 1 gallery

federal court rules gender ideology ban on art endowments unconstitutional 1234753210

A Rhode Island federal court ruled on Friday that National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants do not have to comply with President Trump’s executive order banning “gender ideology.” The order, introduced in February, prohibited federal funds from being used to promote the idea that males can identify as women and vice versa, and was applied to the NEA grant application process. The ACLU’s Rhode Island branch filed a lawsuit in March on behalf of several theaters, arguing the policy violated First Amendment rights by restricting the types of works that could receive funding. Judge William E. Smith, appointed by former President George W. Bush, found the policy unconstitutional, noting that the 1965 law establishing the NEA requires grants to be awarded solely on merit. A subsequent “final notice” allowing the NEA chair to review applications on a case-by-case basis was also struck down as a viewpoint-based restriction on artists’ speech.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original