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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Terry Tang

Artists want complete control over their public exhibitions. Governments say it’s not that simple

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

If things had gone as originally planned, Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum would be launching its fall exhibition Friday. But officials postponed the show six weeks before the opening over concern that a painting by activist-artist Shepard Fairey could be seen as “disparaging toward some City of Mesa employees.”

Now, the Phoenix suburb is ready to move forward and debut the show in October, albeit with a prominent disclaimer that the artwork represents only the artist's views. All the original artists have been invited to remain in the exhibition.

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