After months of abuse, the Smithsonian Institution finally pushes back against President Trump’s attempts to dictate the content of exhibitions and terminate National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet for political reasons.
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June 11, 2025

After months of abuse, the Smithsonian Institution finally pushes back against President Trump’s attempts to dictate the content of exhibitions and terminate National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet for political reasons. Still, the Institution does it with the mildest possible statement. Get the details in Staff Writer Isa Farfan’s report.

Meanwhile, Pussy Riot co-founder Nadya Tolokonnikova recreates the Russian prison cell in which she spent two years in a durational performance at MOCA Los Angeles, where protesters gathered to resist the federal government's attacks on undocumented people. Matt Stromberg dropped by to take a look.

In the Windy City, Jen Torwudzo-Stroh visits an impressive show by the University of Chicago’s MFA students, while Lori Waxman writes admiringly about two new exhibitions by Huguette Caland and Hai-Wen Lin.

Also, read artist Alicia Grullón’s insightful review of a new anthology about Nuyorican and Diasporican visual art, edited by Arlene Dávila and Yasmin Ramirez.

— Hakim Bishara, Managing Editor

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Smithsonian Pushes Back Against Trump's Meddling in Defiant Statement

Though the president attempted to fire her last month, National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet still reports to work. | Isa Farfan

SPONSORED

Nadya Tolokonnikova Builds a Prison of Her Own 

The Pussy Riot co-founder undergoes a 10-day durational performance in a recreation of a cell in Police State. | Matt Stromberg

A Visual Archive of Diasporican Liberation

A new book pulses with artistic forms by Puerto Rican artists born of necessity, urgency, collaboration, and activism. | Alicia Grullón

SPONSORED

Plásmata 3: We’ve met before, haven’t we?

Onassis Stegi presents an immersive open-air biennale in Athens featuring visual art, music, cinema, performances, and more.

Learn more

How Huguette Caland and Hai-Wen Lin Listen to the Body

Playful and witty, full of bright color and unexpected shapes, two of the most delightful solo shows up in Chicago right now concern human bodies. | Lori Waxman

UChicago MFA Students’ Offbeat Aesthetics

Highlights are Eleonore Zurawski’s delicate and brutal sculptures and Rebekka Federle-McCabe’s explicit but tender dog sculptures. | Jen Torwudzo-Stroh

FROM THE ARCHIVE

The Importance of Small-Town Queer Histories

Hyperallergic speaks with Walter Cooper, who wrote the book on queer history in Santa Fe, and Christian Waguespack, who curated the show on it. | Jordan Eddy

FEATURED OPPORTUNITY

Pérez Art Museum Miami – Digital Art Commissions from the Crossroads of the Americas

For its inaugural open call, PAMM requests proposals for experimental digital artworks across South Florida, Latin America, the Caribbean, and African Diaspora. Those selected may receive awards ranging from $1,000–$15,000 during an estimated 12-month period. Read more on Hyperallergic.
Deadline: June 30, 2025 (11:59pm PDT) | pamm.slideroom.com

See more in this month’s list of opportunities for artists, writers, and art workers!

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