Artist Mika Rottenberg, whose work is included in an upcoming show at the Smithsonian-run Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, called the Trump administration's interference with the Smithsonian "fucked up" in a Vanity Fair article. She praised Amy Sherald for canceling a Smithsonian show, calling it "amazing." British artist Richard Long also expressed concern about the administration "strangling everything" at the institution. The article notes that many other artists with works slated for Smithsonian presentations—including Nick Cave, Paul Chan, Olafur Eliasson, Spencer Finch, and Rashid Johnson—declined to speak to Vanity Fair, reflecting a cautious environment. Dread Scott, however, has been vocal, calling for the regime to be driven from power and urging art institutions to support dissenting artists.
This matters because it highlights a growing tension between the art world and the Trump administration over control of the Smithsonian, a major cultural institution. The reluctance of many prominent artists to speak out suggests a climate of fear or self-censorship, which could have a chilling effect on artistic freedom and institutional independence. The situation underscores broader concerns about political interference in arts funding and curation, and the role of artists as public voices in a polarized political landscape.