University says investigation into vandalism ongoing
A University of Houston art exhibit, which some describe as “satanic,” remains broken and on display nearly two months after being vandalized.
The golden statue of a woman with goat horns was decapitated in early July, and the University of Houston Police Department is still investigating, a spokesperson told The College Fix in a recent email.
A security video from police, published by KPRC 2 Houston, shows an individual climbing the statue sometime on the night of July 8; its head falls off and then the individual climbs down and runs away.
University spokesperson Kevin Quinn told The Fix he did not have any updates about the investigation.
“The investigation is ongoing and the statue has not yet been repaired. That’s all I can share at this time,” Quinn said.
Erected in February, the statue “Havah … to Breathe, Air, Life” by artist Shahzia Sikander is slated to remain on campus through Oct. 31, according to the Public Art University of Houston System, which co-commissioned the display.
Sikander blamed the public Texas university for the vandalism in a statement to CNN.
“This was a violent, hateful, and misogynistic act,” the artist stated in July. “And I hold the University of Houston accountable for their inadequate response and failure to protect the art.”
She also said she asked the university to keep the statue on display unrepaired.
“The act of violence is part of the history of the work and a testament to its power. I have asked the university to remove the tarp and show the violated work. They need to respect the wishes of the artist,” Sikander stated.
Her statue challenges “traditional symbols of power, justice, and female representation in public monuments,” according to the university art group.
In 2023, Sikander described a nearly identical statue that she created for a New York City courthouse building as a “form of resistance” in response to the death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the overturning of Roe v. Wade, according to the Catholic News Agency.
As a result, the exhibit caused an uproar on campus and among pro-life advocates. The student government even considered a resolution calling for its removal, The Daily Cougar student newspaper reported at the time.
A number of pro-life organizations, including the campus group Coogs for Life and Students for Life of America, organized a protest at the public university soon after the statue was erected.
Students for Life spokesperson Jordan Estabrook told The Fix in an email last week her organization’s response was to “lawfully protest the statue.”
At the event, the groups created a “Cemetery of the Innocents” display near the statue with pink crosses representing the lives of unborn babies killed in abortions.
“Students for Life of America doesn’t support breaking the law, blocking entrances of buildings, or defacing property,” Estabrook told The Fix when asked about the vandalism.
Estabrook also said student pro-life groups “regularly” are targets of vandalism.
“Sadly, SFLA regularly faces abortion zealots destroying beautiful pro-life messages chalked on public areas,” Estabrook told The Fix.
MORE: ‘Satanic’ art exhibit should be removed: UHouston students
IMAGE: Art21/YouTube, Kristan Hawkins/Facebook, Coogs for Life/Instagram
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