The Art Museum of the Americas, a Washington D.C.-based cultural institution run by the Organisation of American States (OAS), has abruptly canceled two exhibitions featuring Black and LGBTQ+ artists.
According to those involved, the cancellations were made in response to President Donald Trump’s executive order targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Exhibitions “Terminated” Without Explanation
One of the canceled shows, Before the Americas, was curated by artist Cheryl D. Edwards and showcased works by African American, Afro-Latino, and Caribbean artists. Edwards revealed that she received a call from the museum’s director, Adriana Ospina, informing her that the exhibition was being “terminated.”
“‘I have been instructed to call you and tell you that the museum [show] is terminated,’” Edwards told The Washington Post, quoting Ospina’s message. “Nobody uses that word in art: terminated,” she added.
A second exhibition, featuring works by Canadian artist and professor Andil Gosine, was also canceled. Gosine, who curated a show highlighting queer artists of color, received a similar message from the museum director.
“‘I’ve been directed to cancel your show,’” Gosine quoted Ospina, noting that no further explanation was given.
Political Pressure & Funding Threats
The Art Museum of the Americas operates under the OAS, an international body comprising more than 30 member states from the Americas. While it is not directly funded by the U.S. government, a significant portion of the OAS’s $50 million annual budget comes from U.S. contributions via the State Department.
Recently, Trump’s administration has ramped up efforts to defund projects associated with DEI initiatives. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been directed to reassess U.S. ties with international organizations, with a focus on cutting funding from entities deemed “contrary to the interests of the United States.”
In a January message to the OAS, Rubio underscored the administration’s stance, pledging to “combat genuine enemy propaganda with the fundamental truth that America is a great and just country whose people are generous.”
Fears of Censorship & Silencing Marginalized Artists
Gosine described the cancellations as “an anticipatory move” to align U.S. foreign policy with Trump’s nationalist vision.
“I fear, at this moment, that means throwing queer people, queer artists, marginal people, under the bus,” he said.
Edwards, 71, who has faced institutional racism throughout her career, expressed deep concern over what she sees as a direct assault on artistic freedom.
“The push to root out DEI in American life is silencing artistic voices,” she said.
Trump’s Influence Over the Arts
The cancellations come amid Trump’s broader push to reshape American cultural institutions. Earlier this month, he appointed himself chair of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., vowing to usher in a “golden age of arts and culture” free from drag performances and “anti-American propaganda.”
While a federal judge recently blocked parts of Trump’s executive orders affecting DEI-related policies for federal contractors and universities, concerns remain over the administration’s ongoing crackdown on diversity and inclusion initiatives.
For many in the art world, the sudden cancellation of these exhibitions signals a troubling precedent—one that could see further restrictions on marginalized artists and cultural programming in the years to come.
