Art Museum of the Americas Cancels 2 Shows
The Art Museum of the Americas located in Washington, D.C., has abruptly decided to cancel two exhibitions, which were curated to highlight Black and LGBTQ+ artists and the struggles of their community. This refers to the LGBTQ+ art censorship under the Trump administration, whose executive orders affect the DEI AKA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies set up by the previous Biden administration. According to the Washington Post, this move is just a smaller puzzle piece of a larger initiative to reduce art funding and queer artists post-2016 election. The DEI programs across American institutions ran on federal support.
Before the Americas
One of the cancelled exhibitions, Before the Americas, was scheduled for 21 March 2025. The showcase, curated by Cheryl D. Edwards, was to include 40 artworks by Afro-Latino, Caribbean, and African American artists. The show would’ve addressed the themes of migration, colonialism, and the cultural influence of the African diaspora. Among the participating artists were Wifredo Lam, Elizabeth Catlett, and Amy Sherald, known for her portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama.
Courtesy – Cheryl D. Edwards
Edwards mentioned to Hyperallergic that it would have been the first occasion that the Arts of the Americas exhibited such a gigantic assembly of works by African American artists. Supposed to commence in 2025, the exhibition had been commissioned in 2021. It had been designated funding by the Biden administration as a “DEI program and event.” However, the funding was subsequently withdrawn.
Impact of Trump DEI Cuts on LGBTQ+ Artists
Another exhibition that was cancelled was Nature’s Wild With Andil Gosine. The show purportedly examined queer theory and colonial laws in the Caribbean. The roster for this show included imminent names from Canada, and numerous LGBTQ+ artists, including a key video installation by the late Lorraine O’Grady.
Courtesy – Andil Gosine
Trump Administration’s Effect on LGBTQ+ Art Exhibitions and Events
These cancellations are part of the DEI policy changes and LGBTQ+ art collectives across federally funded institutions. Another major change came when Donald Trump appointed himself chair of the Kennedy Center. He also named Richard Grenell, a certified gay Republican, as its executive director. Despite having LGBTQ+ identifying members in the cabinet, a concert in honour of WorldPride was also scrapped. This concert was to feature the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington.
Courtesy – Cheryl D. Edwards
Internal communications reviewed by Hyperallergic verify that the U.S. government had been the main financial backer of the exhibition before retracting its support. When Edwards proposed to find private funding sources, the AMA declined.
Image Courtesy – Sourav Roy
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