The Graduate students in the MFA Studio Art program at the University of North Texas (UNT) are taking a stand in solidarity with artist Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez, whose exhibition at the school was unexpectedly cancelled. The exhibition, entitled Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá, delved into Quiñonez’s Mexican-American heritage and highlighted the violence against immigrants by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The abrupt closure of the show, just days after its opening on February 3, raised concerns among students and faculty at UNT.
Despite repeated requests for an explanation, UNT has remained silent on the reasons behind the cancellation of Quiñonez’s exhibition. This lack of transparency has sparked outrage within the UNT community, prompting protests and calls for accountability from school leadership. In a show of support for Quiñonez and artistic freedom, nine out of the eleven graduating MFA students have decided to withdraw their upcoming thesis presentations.
Carla Hughes, a teaching fellow at UNT, expressed her disappointment in the administration’s handling of the situation. She discovered the removal of Quiñonez’s exhibition vinyl without any prior notification, leaving her and other students feeling marginalized and unheard. The incident has shed light on a troubling pattern of censorship at UNT, with previous incidents involving the dismantling of pro-Palestine artworks.
Robyn Rozelle, another graduating student, decided to withdraw her MFA show in solidarity with Quiñonez and the Hispanic students at UNT. The lack of representation and censorship of cultural art has deeply affected students, prompting them to take a stand against the suppression of artistic expression on campus.
The timing of the exhibition closure, amid financial challenges and scrutiny from state officials, has raised further questions about UNT’s motives. The recent budget deficit announcement and pressure from Republican officials like Attorney General Ken Paxton have added a political dimension to the controversy. Paxton’s support for Trump’s deportation policies and his investigation into UNT for alleged “left-wing extremism” have fueled speculation about external influences on the school’s decision to cancel the exhibition.
As the UNT community continues to demand transparency and accountability from school leadership, artist and associate professor Alicia Egger has pledged her support for the students’ cause. She believes that the administration’s actions do not align with the values of the campus community and calls for a full explanation of the exhibition’s cancellation.
In the midst of this turmoil, Quiñonez’s installation “Elevar la Cultura” continues to be on display at the Latino Cultural Center in Dallas, providing a platform for his powerful message to reach a wider audience. The students at UNT remain steadfast in their commitment to artistic freedom and will continue to advocate for a more inclusive and transparent campus environment.
