The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery removed wall text referencing President Donald Trump's two impeachments from its "America's Presidents" exhibition after installing a new portrait of him. The original label had noted Trump's political accomplishments and his impeachments for abuse of power and inciting insurrection, which had reportedly been a sore point for the Trump administration. Separately, Colombian painter Beatriz González died at age 93; she was known for reworking Old Master paintings in garish colors and later addressing political upheaval in her country.
These stories matter because they highlight ongoing tensions between cultural institutions and political power, as well as the loss of a major Latin American artist. The National Portrait Gallery's removal of factual historical text raises questions about institutional independence and the politicization of museum exhibitions. Beatriz González's death marks the end of a significant career that bridged Pop art and political commentary, with her work recently featured at Documenta 14 and set for a retrospective at the Barbican Centre.