Graduate students in the MFA Studio Art program at the University of North Texas (UNT) have withdrawn their thesis shows in support of artist Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez. His exhibit at the College of Visual Arts and Design (CVAD) was unexpectedly canceled without explanation. The exhibition, titled Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá, highlighted the duality of diasporic life and addressed violence against immigrants by ICE. It opened on February 3 and was to run until May 1, but visitors found the gallery windows covered just a week later. UNT’s website also removed the exhibition’s page, and Quiñonez was notified of the closure via a brief email on February 11.
The university has not publicly explained the cancellation, nor has it responded to Hyperallergic’s inquiries. The abrupt closure, suspected to involve censorship due to its critical content on ICE, has ignited protests and letters to university leaders. On Monday, students and alumni staged a vigil at the shut-down gallery, where they laid out a Mexican flag and candles. Carla Hughes, a graduating student and teaching fellow, stated that nine of the eleven graduating MFA students are withdrawing their thesis presentations. She expressed a desire to showcase their work in community spaces rather than within the institution.
Hughes noticed Quiñonez’s exhibition vinyl missing from the gallery during her shift at CVAD. When questioned, faculty and staff indicated they were instructed not to discuss the incident, creating an atmosphere of secrecy. In a letter to university leaders, students described Quiñonez’s show cancellation as part of a worrying trend. A similar incident occurred last year when pro-Palestine artworks were partially dismantled following complaints from Republican state representatives. This led to a policy, approved in May 2025, intended to protect artistic expression on campus.
Robyn Rozelle, another MFA student and teaching fellow, also withdrew her thesis show in solidarity with those impacted by Quiñonez’s exhibition. UNT, a Hispanic-Serving Institution, has around 25% Hispanic students, and Rozelle highlighted the significance of cultural representation and the heartbreak caused by its censorship. Sierra Rose Dominguez, an undergraduate who organized last week’s vigil, noted the emotional responses from students who left messages and flowers at the site.
The exhibition’s cancellation coincides with financial difficulties at UNT, as President Harrison Keller recently announced a projected $45 million budget shortfall. The university’s actions have been scrutinized by Republican state officials, including Attorney General Ken Paxton. UNT has not clarified if external pressures influenced the exhibition’s closure. Alicia Eggert, a UNT associate professor, supports the community’s demand for transparency, stating the need for accountability and explanations for both the artist and students.
