UNT cancels controversial immigration-themed art exhibit amid safety concerns
The University of North Texas (UNT) has cancelled an upcoming art exhibit by Brooklyn artist Victor Quiñonez, titled Ni De Aquí Ni De Allá. Scheduled to open on 19 February, the show was abruptly removed from the university's galleries website by Thursday. The decision followed an anonymous complaint alleging the artwork criticised US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Quiñonez, also known as Marka27, was informed via email that the university had terminated the art loan agreement. His pieces, originally on loan from Boston University, would be returned immediately. The cancellation came after reports of the CVAD Gallery's windows being covered in brown paper on Wednesday.
In an official email sent on 10 February, Provost Julie Sperry cited safety concerns as the reason for the cancellation. She referenced potential protests and threats from external groups, framing the move under institutional risk assessment protocols. No specific legal violations were mentioned.
The exhibit explored themes of Mexican and Mexican-American identity, including works that openly criticised ICE and US immigration policies. Despite the cancellation, Quiñonez remains listed as a juror for UNT's Paul Voertman Juried Student Exhibition. The university has not clarified whether the decision aligns with its own policies, which protect artistic expression under the First Amendment and academic freedom principles.
The removal of Ni De Aquí Ni De Allá leaves questions about the balance between safety concerns and free expression at UNT. The university has confirmed the cancellation but has not provided further details. Quiñonez's artwork, which was set to challenge immigration narratives, will no longer be displayed on campus.
