UNT art students protest censorship by showcasing work off-campus
By Yfat Yossifor, Lucinda Breeding-Gonzales | Denton Record-Chronicle, Emily Putnam
May 1, 2026 at 6:00 AM CDT
Visitors walk up the stairs in an apartment building in Dallas for the opening reception of ‘Institutional Critique’ art show. The show features five UNT College of Visual Arts & Design graduates who opted to showcase their work off campus. (8192x5464, AR: 1.499267935578331)
Two months ago, the University of North Texas removed an exhibit by popular street artist Victor Quiñonez, known as Marka27, whose work criticized tactics used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The university's decision drew national attention and accusations of censorship.
Now, students in the College of Visual Arts & Design (CVAD) are opting out of displaying their art on campus, deciding instead to showcase their work in DIY pop-up spaces across Denton and Dallas. They say it's a form of protest over the university censoring other artists, like Quiñonez and Fatima Kubra.
Kubra's piece, referencing the war in Gaza, was removed from the Student Union Gallery a year ago after critics lobbied Denton representatives in the Texas House, claiming the artwork was antisemitic.
Lyn May stands near her work featured in the art show in an apartment turned gallery in Dallas. (7102x4737, AR: 1.4992611357399197)
"Our programs are supposed to be encouraging and help us explore critical thinking and emotional expression, whereas censorship makes us silence ourselves," UNT student Alexandra Elmendorf said. "So now people are scared and they want to go with the status quo."
"Morale here at CVAD has been incredibly low," UNT student Lynn May added. "No one's really happy and no one really wants to even put this school in their CV."
The UNT graduate artists featured in ‘Institutional Critique’ gather around a table during the opening reception. (6702x4470, AR: 1.4993288590604026)
Ryan Semegran, cofounder of 2 BED 1 BATH, back, talks to visitors about the apartment turned gallery at the reception for ‘Institutional Critique.’ (5277x3520, AR: 1.4991477272727274)
At one of the Oak Cliff pop-up art galleries — dubbed 2 Bed 1 Bath — family, friends and visitors packed into the small apartment on Saturday to chat, eat and celebrate the artwork on display.
Ryan Semegran and Kassidy Stines, UNT CVAD alumni and co-founders of the makeshift gallery, live in the apartment and curated the show. They filled any available wall space with art — including above the doorway and in the hallway.
The show is called "Institutional Critique" to signal the artists' displeasure with UNT. It featured work by May and Elmendorf as well as Forest Nehemiah, Aidan Kearns and Lillie Hickman.
Visitors looks over work by five UNT graduates during reception for the show. (7524x5018, AR: 1.4994021522518932)
Semegran told the Denton Record-Chronicle that after Quiñonez's exhibit was removed from campus, they felt embarrassed to have attended school there.
"The university is actively choosing not to show work that we're learning about in classrooms," they said. "That [these artists] feel scared to show work that's about their own lived experiences, I think that that in itself is a big indicator of the institution failing them."
Zak Hellesto takes a break to check his phone on the couch in an apartment turned gallery. (7307x4874, AR: 1.4991793188346327)
Visitors looks over work by five UNT graduates during reception for the art show ‘Institutional Critique’ taking place in a Dallas apartment converted into a gallery. (7307x4874, AR: 1.4991793188346327)
Stines also expressed her disappointment with her alma mater.
"It's not a great look ... with this particular artist and his subject matter being censored like this at an institution that is historically known for being fairly progressive," she said.
"Institutional Critique" opened on Saturday, April 25, but 2 Bed 1 Bath is taking reservations for additional showings until May 3.
To schedule a time to view the gallery, you can reach out via their Instagram page.
Visitors chat during reception for the show in 2 BED 1 BATH - an apartment turned gallery in Dallas. (7112x4744, AR: 1.4991568296795952)
Two months ago, the University of North Texas removed an exhibit by popular street artist Victor Quiñonez, known as Marka27, whose work criticized tactics used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The university's decision drew national attention and accusations of censorship.
Now, students in the College of Visual Arts & Design (CVAD) are opting out of displaying their art on campus, deciding instead to showcase their work in DIY pop-up spaces across Denton and Dallas. They say it's a form of protest over the university censoring other artists, like Quiñonez and Fatima Kubra.
Kubra's piece, referencing the war in Gaza, was removed from the Student Union Gallery a year ago after critics lobbied Denton representatives in the Texas House, claiming the artwork was antisemitic.
Lyn May stands near her work featured in the art show in an apartment turned gallery in Dallas. (7102x4737, AR: 1.4992611357399197)
"Our programs are supposed to be encouraging and help us explore critical thinking and emotional expression, whereas censorship makes us silence ourselves," UNT student Alexandra Elmendorf said. "So now people are scared and they want to go with the status quo."
"Morale here at CVAD has been incredibly low," UNT student Lynn May added. "No one's really happy and no one really wants to even put this school in their CV."
The UNT graduate artists featured in ‘Institutional Critique’ gather around a table during the opening reception. (6702x4470, AR: 1.4993288590604026)
Ryan Semegran, cofounder of 2 BED 1 BATH, back, talks to visitors about the apartment turned gallery at the reception for ‘Institutional Critique.’ (5277x3520, AR: 1.4991477272727274)
At one of the Oak Cliff pop-up art galleries — dubbed 2 Bed 1 Bath — family, friends and visitors packed into the small apartment on Saturday to chat, eat and celebrate the artwork on display.
Ryan Semegran and Kassidy Stines, UNT CVAD alumni and co-founders of the makeshift gallery, live in the apartment and curated the show. They filled any available wall space with art — including above the doorway and in the hallway.
The show is called "Institutional Critique" to signal the artists' displeasure with UNT. It featured work by May and Elmendorf as well as Forest Nehemiah, Aidan Kearns and Lillie Hickman.
Visitors looks over work by five UNT graduates during reception for the show. (7524x5018, AR: 1.4994021522518932)
Semegran told the Denton Record-Chronicle that after Quiñonez's exhibit was removed from campus, they felt embarrassed to have attended school there.
"The university is actively choosing not to show work that we're learning about in classrooms," they said. "That [these artists] feel scared to show work that's about their own lived experiences, I think that that in itself is a big indicator of the institution failing them."
Zak Hellesto takes a break to check his phone on the couch in an apartment turned gallery. (7307x4874, AR: 1.4991793188346327)
Visitors looks over work by five UNT graduates during reception for the art show ‘Institutional Critique’ taking place in a Dallas apartment converted into a gallery. (7307x4874, AR: 1.4991793188346327)
Stines also expressed her disappointment with her alma mater.
"It's not a great look ... with this particular artist and his subject matter being censored like this at an institution that is historically known for being fairly progressive," she said.
"Institutional Critique" opened on Saturday, April 25, but 2 Bed 1 Bath is taking reservations for additional showings until May 3.
To schedule a time to view the gallery, you can reach out via their Instagram page.
Visitors chat during reception for the show in 2 BED 1 BATH - an apartment turned gallery in Dallas. (7112x4744, AR: 1.4991568296795952)