Vasari Art Codex

article news schedule May 1, 2025 visibility 1 link 5 artists

american civil liberties union of texas artists in residence 1234740261

The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas (ACLU of Texas) has named Houston-based painter Vincent Valdez and Austin-based author KB Brookins as the recipients of its artists-in-residence program for 2025–26. Each artist will receive $30,000 to fund individual projects and will collaborate with the ACLU of Texas and community leaders to advocate for civil rights. Valdez plans to paint portraits of local community leaders and create poster packets combining Know Your Rights information with archival research for statewide distribution. Brookins will address pretrial detention in Texas jails through original compositions, workshops, and public presentations, focusing on mass incarceration issues in Harris County. The pair were selected from roughly 200 applicants following a statewide open call, succeeding artist Kill Joy, who led an immigrants' rights tour with large puppets.

newspaper ARTnews open_in_new Read original

article news schedule May 2, 2025 visibility 2 link 6 artists

Vincent Valdez and KB Brookins picked for ACLU Texas's artist-in-residence programme

The ACLU of Texas has selected Austin-based writer and artist KB Brookins and San Antonio-born painter Vincent Valdez as its artists-in-residence for 2026. Chosen from nearly 200 applicants, each will receive $30,000 to create works addressing criminal law reform, immigrants' rights, and equality for LGBTQIA+ individuals. Valdez will focus on portraits of local community leaders for his New Americans series and produce 'Know Your Rights' poster packets, while Brookins will tackle the pretrial carceral system through community organizing and workshops.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

article policy schedule Apr 8, 2026 visibility 10 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.

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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.

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