A self portrait by Clarence Heyward was vandalized last week by visitors to the Houston Museum of African American Culture, where the work by the Raleigh, North Carolina based artist is on view as part of a survey titled “Eden.”
As reported by the Houston Chronicle, “the artwork was left with what appears to be a puncture and a horizontal gash in the canvas” after two museumgoers were seen walking around the museum. “Though staff did not witness the visitors in the act of damaging the artwork, they were seen giving an obscene gesture toward an art piece from another exhibition and leaving abruptly. … A few hours later, the artwork from Heyward was found damaged by staff and was immediately removed from public view.”
John Guess, the Houston Museum of African American Culture’s chief executive, told Hyperallergic, “I do believe this incident was racially motivated.”
Museum workers initially began to restore the painting but chose instead to put it back on view in its violated condition, saying in a statement: “We halted the restoration process and returned the artwork to the museum because we believed the public should see what happens when disagreement gives way to destruction. Museums exist to encourage inquiry, reflection, and conversation. They are places where people encounter ideas they may embrace, challenge, or reject but never silence through violence.”
Heyward told Hyperallergic that he was “disappointed” by the vandalism but said he could not speak to the “motivations behind this act.” He added, “I create work that invites reflection, challenges assumptions, and encourages dialogue. My hope has always been that those perspectives lead to conversation rather than destruction.”
On June 13, the New York Times reported that the incident is being investigated and no arrests have been made, adding that “security cameras were not operating properly the day of the incident, and the museum had put in a work order the day before to have them repaired.”