Andrea Gyorody has resigned as the director of the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art at Pepperdine University after reports of censorship.
Earlier in October, Pepperdine University reportedly forced changes in the ongoing Hold My Hands In Yours exhibition, curated by Gyorody. This included removing Call To Arms 2015-2025, a video work by Elena Mann, and covering a patch reading “Abolish ICE” in the collaborative sculpture Con Nuestros Manos Construimos Deidades by AMBOS. The administration justified the decision at the time, saying that it was in line with the non-profit status of the museum. However, many artists asked to remove their works from the exhibition in protest, leading to the closure of the exhibition six months prior to the scheduled.
According to an interview by Gyorody, 24th October was her last day at the museum. While she did not explicitly say it, speculations since then have tied her resignation of the censorship allegations against Pepperdine University. The administration, however, released a press release saying that Gyorody and the museum have “mutually agreed” to part ways, also thanking her for her contributions. However, Gyorody’s resignation indicates that the censorship scandal at Pepperdine is far from over. Already, the university faculty has released a statement supporting the freedom of expression of the artists. The student body at the university has also planned a demonstration outside the campus on 29th October.
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Speaking about her tenure, Andrea Gyorody said: “This has been an extraordinary chapter in my career. I’m proud of the exhibitions and programs that brought new voices into conversation and invited audiences to engage deeply with contemporary art. I’m grateful to the artists, faculty, students, and colleagues who made the museum a vital space for connection and reflection, and I look forward to continuing to champion those same values in the next chapter of my work.”
