A controversial art exhibit came down Thursday hours after Kent State University constructed scaffolding to obstruct windows displaying the piece in the Center for the Visual Arts.
The exhibit featured depictions of the heads of government officials, including President Donald Trump, on stakes overlayed onto windows of the building. The phrase “We Only Have to Get Lucky Once,” which is also the title of the project, accompanied the piece.
The work is a part of the senior thesis for Rorke McCullough, a Bachelor of Fine Arts student. A painting of the Last Supper with Trump and others close to him was also part of the display.
“The Kent State student whose art class exhibition included depictions of violence toward elected officials has agreed to remove the display,” said Eric Mansfield, assistant vice president of content strategy and communications for the university, in a statement. “The university supports the student’s decision and the work of the faculty to bring about a resolution to this matter.”
The exhibit gained attention on the Libs of TikTok X account where a post about the art was shared over 1,200 times at the time of publication.
Jillian Sokso, director of the School of Art, and McCullough said they could not comment.
Adriana Gasiewski is a campus editor. Contact her at [email protected].
Christina • Apr 18, 2025 at 2:27 pm
The fact you allowed a student do this is Terrorism at its finest and you should be suspending that student. When did this BS become ok??? What are you allowing that generation to become??? Shame on all of you!!!
Sam • Apr 19, 2025 at 6:32 pm
First, the artist willingly obliged to taking it down. Second, art is a form of expression which is not always meant to be comfortable. If we want to talk about domestic terrorism I think you should at least mention Kaitlin Bennett walking around campus (and yes, I know it was after she was a student) with LITERAL WEAPONS that could commit mass causalities. I think the least of our worries right now should be a student who expressed themselves and WHEN ASKED did take it down.
Rose • Apr 18, 2025 at 11:09 am
You should take down the artist’s name for his own safety.
ConservativeSort • Apr 18, 2025 at 2:39 pm
Why? If you’re tough enough to make your statement… you should be tough enough to stand behind it. Or… better stated… you play stupid games, you win stupid prizes. Freedom of speech? Yup sure is. Freedom of speech without concern of recourse? This is gray….
Kate • Apr 18, 2025 at 5:03 pm
Wow ConservativeSort, you guys sure love to talk about toughness. Let’s all bow to the big strong man.
meme • Apr 18, 2025 at 6:36 pm
No! They thought this was a show stopper, correct?? They wanted everyone to see this garbage, right? They’re famous now. Screw the artist.
liz • Apr 19, 2025 at 12:53 pm
for safety? No. Fuck you.
Flynn • Apr 19, 2025 at 6:09 pm
God forbid a student exercises their right to free speech at the expense of a violent bigoted felon.