University of North Texas Shutters Exhibition of Artworks Critical of ICE

"Initially curated by Kate Fowle for Boston University Art Galleries, where it was on view for three months last year, the show notably included several works from Quiñonez's acclaimed I.C.E. Scream series - life-sized sculptures of paletas, or ice pops, that are both tributes to Latine immigrant culture and searing critiques of the violence inflicted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)."

"Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá - Spanish for "neither from here nor from there" - opened on February 3 and was slated to run through May 1 at the College of Visual Arts and Design (CVAD) Galleries in the UNT Art Building. Quiñonez told Hyperallergic that he learned about the show's abrupt closure through messages from students on social media. They sent him photos showing the gallery's distinctive glass windows covered with brown paper sheets, blocking the view inside."

Victor "Marka27" Quiñonez is a Mexican-American artist whose work centers the lived experience of immigrants and critiques federal enforcement. The exhibition Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá opened February 3 at the College of Visual Arts and Design Galleries and was scheduled through May 1. The show included works from the I.C.E. Scream series—life-sized paleta sculptures with handcuffs or weapons in resin—alongside graffiti, paintings, and an immersive installation referencing Indigenous roots and street art. The University of North Texas closed the exhibition abruptly, students photographed paper-covered gallery windows, and online mentions were removed. The artist later received a brief email from the gallery director.

Read at Hyperallergic