An exhibition titled 'Drawings Against Genocide' by British artist Matthew Collings, scheduled to open at Delta House Gallery in Wandsworth, London, has been cancelled after complaints from UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) about antisemitic content. The show, planned for May 2026, included graphic drawings depicting Jews with horns, devouring babies, and denying Hamas's October 7 attacks, and had previously sparked outrage at a Margate gallery. Gallery owners Pineapple Corporation and Delta House Studios Ltd confirmed the cancellation after UKLFI warned of legal risks under the Public Order Act 1986.
The cancellation matters because it highlights the tension between freedom of expression and the responsibility of cultural institutions to avoid normalizing antisemitic imagery, especially amid rising antisemitic incidents in the UK. The controversy, covered by The Telegraph and The Times, underscores how art can become a flashpoint for hate speech debates, with UKLFI arguing that such material lowers public discourse thresholds. The artist defended his work as commentary on Israeli actions, but the gallery's decision reflects growing institutional caution around content perceived as hateful.