Steven Nelson
@snelsonus.bsky.social
Executive Director, Sam Gilliam Foundation; UCLA professor emeritus; and left-handed art historian who sees lots of shiny objects. Opinions expressed here are my own.
This is Lonnie Bunch's retirement, not his resignation. As upset as some people are with his news, having worked in the Federal Government, sometimes we can be more effective from the outside than from within. I can't wait to see what he does once he's untethered. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/08/a...
Smithsonian’s Secretary to Resign as Trump Tries to Rule the Institution (Gift Article)
In the face of escalating White House attacks about how museums present American history, Lonnie G. Bunch III has announced his decision to depart.
www.nytimes.com
September 9, 2026 at 4:55 PM
This is Lonnie Bunch's retirement, not his resignation. As upset as some people are with his news, having worked in the Federal Government, sometimes we can be more effective from the outside than from within. I can't wait to see what he does once he's untethered. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/08/a...
Gloria Steinem was one of my sheroes, a model of feminist practice and a inspiration for so many of us. Because of her, I subscribed to Ms. Magazine for years. Both deeply influenced my own thinking and writing. Rest in Power.
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/03/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/03/u...
Gloria Steinem, Personification of the Feminist Movement, Dies at 92 (Gift Article)
She challenged sexist assumptions, helping women develop a sense of self-worth and gain a measure of equality at work, at home and in society at large.
www.nytimes.com
September 3, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Gloria Steinem was one of my sheroes, a model of feminist practice and a inspiration for so many of us. Because of her, I subscribed to Ms. Magazine for years. Both deeply influenced my own thinking and writing. Rest in Power.
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/03/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/03/u...
Reposted by Steven Nelson
This is how our government has been corrupted:
1) Donors give huge sums to elect politicians to office
2) Elected officials rewrite rules in the donors' favor
3) Donors make huge profit
4) Repeat
We must get big money out of politics.
It is the root of our dysfunction.
1) Donors give huge sums to elect politicians to office
2) Elected officials rewrite rules in the donors' favor
3) Donors make huge profit
4) Repeat
We must get big money out of politics.
It is the root of our dysfunction.
August 31, 2026 at 9:00 PM
This is how our government has been corrupted:
1) Donors give huge sums to elect politicians to office
2) Elected officials rewrite rules in the donors' favor
3) Donors make huge profit
4) Repeat
We must get big money out of politics.
It is the root of our dysfunction.
1) Donors give huge sums to elect politicians to office
2) Elected officials rewrite rules in the donors' favor
3) Donors make huge profit
4) Repeat
We must get big money out of politics.
It is the root of our dysfunction.
If I were still in academia, I would move to a Canadian institution in a heartbeat.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/27/w...
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/27/w...
Canada Hires U.S. Scholars From Harvard and Other Top Universities (Gift Article)
A crackdown on American academia by the Trump administration has handed Canadian universities a rare opportunity to lure some top researchers north.
www.nytimes.com
August 28, 2026 at 12:19 PM
If I were still in academia, I would move to a Canadian institution in a heartbeat.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/27/w...
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/27/w...
A great development at UCLA newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/ucl...
UCLA launches nation's first digital humanities department
Future-ready students, forward-looking research: The new department brings a humanistic approach to AI and other emerging technologies.
newsroom.ucla.edu
August 28, 2026 at 12:06 PM
A great development at UCLA newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/ucl...
Reposted by Steven Nelson
Judge strikes down Texas ban on drag shows, tells people offended by them ‘just don’t go’
Judge strikes down Texas ban on drag shows, tells people offended by them ‘just don’t go’
The federal judge, who cited Dolly Parton in his ruling, found that the state law violated the First Amendment.
www.nbcnews.com
August 26, 2026 at 12:02 PM
Judge strikes down Texas ban on drag shows, tells people offended by them ‘just don’t go’
Reposted by Steven Nelson
The Library is devastated to learn of the passing of Dolly Parton, a music legend and titan of children's literacy. Her Imagination Library program has earned multiple Library Literacy Awards and, in 2018, she visited us to donate its 100 millionth book to our collection and host a story time. 🦋❤️
August 25, 2026 at 7:09 PM
The Library is devastated to learn of the passing of Dolly Parton, a music legend and titan of children's literacy. Her Imagination Library program has earned multiple Library Literacy Awards and, in 2018, she visited us to donate its 100 millionth book to our collection and host a story time. 🦋❤️
Be a Dolly, not a Donald.
August 25, 2026 at 10:07 PM
Be a Dolly, not a Donald.
Reposted by Steven Nelson
Corporate Democrats are on the defensive because their campaign cash isn’t working the way it used to.
Now, finally, the Democratic Party has an opportunity to once again become the party of working Americans, as it used to be, rather than the party of the wealthy elite.
Now, finally, the Democratic Party has an opportunity to once again become the party of working Americans, as it used to be, rather than the party of the wealthy elite.
August 20, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Corporate Democrats are on the defensive because their campaign cash isn’t working the way it used to.
Now, finally, the Democratic Party has an opportunity to once again become the party of working Americans, as it used to be, rather than the party of the wealthy elite.
Now, finally, the Democratic Party has an opportunity to once again become the party of working Americans, as it used to be, rather than the party of the wealthy elite.
Reposted by Steven Nelson
Call me crazy, but perhaps being related to a Senator who died doesn’t qualify you to be a Senator.
August 19, 2026 at 8:42 PM
Call me crazy, but perhaps being related to a Senator who died doesn’t qualify you to be a Senator.
Andrew Baker's essay is a critical counterpart to Tyler Austin Harper's recent anti-DEI screed published by The Atlantic.
Not that TAH will be dislodged from his lucrative lane of rage-baiting boomers (watch for the book-length version coming soon) but it is good to have this on the record by Andrew Baker analyzing the events at Bates with integrity and political perspective.
newsletter.thedriftmag.com/p/racism-and...
newsletter.thedriftmag.com/p/racism-and...
Racism and labor at Bates: the other side of the story
Andrew Baker responds to Tyler Austin Harper
newsletter.thedriftmag.com
August 20, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Andrew Baker's essay is a critical counterpart to Tyler Austin Harper's recent anti-DEI screed published by The Atlantic.
Reposted by Steven Nelson
August 20, 2026 at 10:33 AM
Important research and soft censorship by the State of Arkansas.
“They immediately said, ‘Do not mention this to anyone.’ They said to keep researching, but don’t say anything about it because they might be watching,“ researcher Tessa Wahlquist said. “They” were members of the Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders administration.
A researcher at the Old State House discovered slave auctions had once taken place on museum grounds. Her bosses told her to stay silent. - Arkansas Times
“They immediately said, ‘Do not mention this to anyone.’ They said to keep researching, but don’t say anything about it because they might be watching,“ researcher Tessa Wahlquist said. “They” were me...
arktimes.com
August 18, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Important research and soft censorship by the State of Arkansas.
Reposted by Steven Nelson
“ 'It is clear that the National Gallery interpreted "Color Lines’"as a problem to be solved rather than as an important academic conference,' Nelson wrote in his essay, which was published in October, a quarterly academic journal on art history."
I wrote an essay on the moving of the 2025 Wyeth Symposium from the National Gallery and the implications of such an action. Titled “Soft Censorship,” the piece recently appeared in the journal "October."
Today the NYT published this article based on the essay.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/a...
Today the NYT published this article based on the essay.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/a...
National Gallery Accused of ‘Soft Censorship’ to Avoid Provoking Trump (Gift Article)
A former executive with the Washington museum says it moved a symposium about race in art to avoid political blowback.
www.nytimes.com
August 13, 2026 at 6:28 PM
“ 'It is clear that the National Gallery interpreted "Color Lines’"as a problem to be solved rather than as an important academic conference,' Nelson wrote in his essay, which was published in October, a quarterly academic journal on art history."
Reposted by Steven Nelson
“Going forward, it will be easier for the National Gallery to marginalize or suppress ideas, artwork, and exhibitions that challenge the status quo. Museum staff will learn self-censorship.”
I wrote an essay on the moving of the 2025 Wyeth Symposium from the National Gallery and the implications of such an action. Titled “Soft Censorship,” the piece recently appeared in the journal "October."
Today the NYT published this article based on the essay.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/a...
Today the NYT published this article based on the essay.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/a...
National Gallery Accused of ‘Soft Censorship’ to Avoid Provoking Trump (Gift Article)
A former executive with the Washington museum says it moved a symposium about race in art to avoid political blowback.
www.nytimes.com
August 13, 2026 at 7:41 PM
“Going forward, it will be easier for the National Gallery to marginalize or suppress ideas, artwork, and exhibitions that challenge the status quo. Museum staff will learn self-censorship.”
Reposted by Steven Nelson
I'm a scholar and a media executive producer/host, not former staff. This comports with my professional experiences of the Trump-era National Gallery of Art.
I wrote an essay on the moving of the 2025 Wyeth Symposium from the National Gallery and the implications of such an action. Titled “Soft Censorship,” the piece recently appeared in the journal "October."
Today the NYT published this article based on the essay.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/a...
Today the NYT published this article based on the essay.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/a...
National Gallery Accused of ‘Soft Censorship’ to Avoid Provoking Trump (Gift Article)
A former executive with the Washington museum says it moved a symposium about race in art to avoid political blowback.
www.nytimes.com
August 10, 2026 at 9:24 PM
I'm a scholar and a media executive producer/host, not former staff. This comports with my professional experiences of the Trump-era National Gallery of Art.
Reposted by Steven Nelson
"Nelson concludes that such preemptive self-restriction, rather than protecting institutions, normalizes self-censorship and transforms #museums into complicit agents of authoritarian control, undermining their stated commitments to diversity, academic freedom, and the free exchange of ideas."
I wrote an essay on the moving of the 2025 Wyeth Symposium from the National Gallery and the implications of such an action. Titled “Soft Censorship,” the piece recently appeared in the journal "October."
Today the NYT published this article based on the essay.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/a...
Today the NYT published this article based on the essay.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/a...
National Gallery Accused of ‘Soft Censorship’ to Avoid Provoking Trump (Gift Article)
A former executive with the Washington museum says it moved a symposium about race in art to avoid political blowback.
www.nytimes.com
August 10, 2026 at 11:19 PM
"Nelson concludes that such preemptive self-restriction, rather than protecting institutions, normalizes self-censorship and transforms #museums into complicit agents of authoritarian control, undermining their stated commitments to diversity, academic freedom, and the free exchange of ideas."
Reposted by Steven Nelson
Indeed, soft censorship as it’s called here is how censorship often works. Institutions and individuals preemptively edit themselves and each case closes the Overton window and further delimits expression
I wrote an essay on the moving of the 2025 Wyeth Symposium from the National Gallery and the implications of such an action. Titled “Soft Censorship,” the piece recently appeared in the journal "October."
Today the NYT published this article based on the essay.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/a...
Today the NYT published this article based on the essay.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/a...
National Gallery Accused of ‘Soft Censorship’ to Avoid Provoking Trump (Gift Article)
A former executive with the Washington museum says it moved a symposium about race in art to avoid political blowback.
www.nytimes.com
August 13, 2026 at 1:17 PM
Indeed, soft censorship as it’s called here is how censorship often works. Institutions and individuals preemptively edit themselves and each case closes the Overton window and further delimits expression
Reposted by Steven Nelson
Very glad to see this out there.
Steven is an incredible leader and scholar (and, to be clear, dear friend).
Steven is an incredible leader and scholar (and, to be clear, dear friend).
I wrote an essay on the moving of the 2025 Wyeth Symposium from the National Gallery and the implications of such an action. Titled “Soft Censorship,” the piece recently appeared in the journal "October."
Today the NYT published this article based on the essay.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/a...
Today the NYT published this article based on the essay.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/a...
National Gallery Accused of ‘Soft Censorship’ to Avoid Provoking Trump (Gift Article)
A former executive with the Washington museum says it moved a symposium about race in art to avoid political blowback.
www.nytimes.com
August 10, 2026 at 11:14 PM
Very glad to see this out there.
Steven is an incredible leader and scholar (and, to be clear, dear friend).
Steven is an incredible leader and scholar (and, to be clear, dear friend).
Reposted by Steven Nelson
I just finished reading Nicholas Enrich’s book about the dismantling of USAID, Into the Wood Chipper, in which he writes about recognizing where one has moral limits, about complicity.
This another story about recognizing complicity.
👇🏾👇🏻👇🏽👇🏼👇🏿
This another story about recognizing complicity.
👇🏾👇🏻👇🏽👇🏼👇🏿
I wrote an essay on the moving of the 2025 Wyeth Symposium from the National Gallery and the implications of such an action. Titled “Soft Censorship,” the piece recently appeared in the journal "October."
Today the NYT published this article based on the essay.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/a...
Today the NYT published this article based on the essay.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/a...
National Gallery Accused of ‘Soft Censorship’ to Avoid Provoking Trump (Gift Article)
A former executive with the Washington museum says it moved a symposium about race in art to avoid political blowback.
www.nytimes.com
August 10, 2026 at 10:00 PM
I just finished reading Nicholas Enrich’s book about the dismantling of USAID, Into the Wood Chipper, in which he writes about recognizing where one has moral limits, about complicity.
This another story about recognizing complicity.
👇🏾👇🏻👇🏽👇🏼👇🏿
This another story about recognizing complicity.
👇🏾👇🏻👇🏽👇🏼👇🏿
I wrote an essay on the moving of the 2025 Wyeth Symposium from the National Gallery and the implications of such an action. Titled “Soft Censorship,” the piece recently appeared in the journal "October."
Today the NYT published this article based on the essay.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/a...
Today the NYT published this article based on the essay.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/a...
National Gallery Accused of ‘Soft Censorship’ to Avoid Provoking Trump (Gift Article)
A former executive with the Washington museum says it moved a symposium about race in art to avoid political blowback.
www.nytimes.com
August 10, 2026 at 8:10 PM
I wrote an essay on the moving of the 2025 Wyeth Symposium from the National Gallery and the implications of such an action. Titled “Soft Censorship,” the piece recently appeared in the journal "October."
Today the NYT published this article based on the essay.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/a...
Today the NYT published this article based on the essay.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/a...
Same doorway, Provincetown, MA, 1984/2026.
August 7, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Same doorway, Provincetown, MA, 1984/2026.
Reposted by Steven Nelson
An important reminder to a nation full of pious busybodies:
August 6, 2026 at 2:17 PM
An important reminder to a nation full of pious busybodies:
Perhaps moderate/establishent Democrats should start reading the room. Voters are not swayed but their empty policy positions and are waking up to the fact that they had a part in clearing the way for authoritarianism’s ascendancy.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/u...
Moderate Democrats Prepare for ‘War’ Against an Ascendant Left (Gift Article)
One moderate group says the progressive wins are “deeply troubling” and is planning a $15 million effort against democratic socialism.
www.nytimes.com
August 6, 2026 at 2:12 PM
Perhaps moderate/establishent Democrats should start reading the room. Voters are not swayed but their empty policy positions and are waking up to the fact that they had a part in clearing the way for authoritarianism’s ascendancy.
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/u...
Kim Sajet, director of the Milwaukee Art Museum and former director of the National Portrait Gallery, interviewed in the NYT on the Trump Administration attack on the Smithsonian, particularly on Anthea Hartig, director of the Smithsonian Museum of American History.
www.nytimes.com/2026/07/30/a...
www.nytimes.com/2026/07/30/a...
For Museum Boss Who Became a Trump Target, It’s Déjà Vu All Over Again (Gift Article)
Kim Sajet left as director of the National Portrait Gallery when she found herself in the White House cross hairs. Now she’s watching another Smithsonian chief go through it.
www.nytimes.com
July 31, 2026 at 12:57 PM
Kim Sajet, director of the Milwaukee Art Museum and former director of the National Portrait Gallery, interviewed in the NYT on the Trump Administration attack on the Smithsonian, particularly on Anthea Hartig, director of the Smithsonian Museum of American History.
www.nytimes.com/2026/07/30/a...
www.nytimes.com/2026/07/30/a...