The University of North Texas abruptly closed the exhibition 'Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá' by artist Victor "Marka27" Quiñonez, which was on view at its College of Visual Arts and Design Galleries. The university terminated its loan agreement with Boston University Art Galleries, removed all online mentions of the show, and covered the gallery windows with paper, offering no public explanation. The artist learned of the closure through students and received only a brief email notification.
The exhibition featured Quiñonez's 'I.C.E. Scream' series—sculptures of ice pops containing handcuffs and revolvers—and other works critiquing the treatment of immigrants by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The closure raises significant concerns about academic freedom, censorship, and the suppression of politically charged art, particularly under a political climate where immigration is a contentious issue. It highlights the vulnerability of artistic expression in institutional settings when it confronts government policies and power.