With the end of the year fast approaching and Christmas right around the corner, a museum in Fort Worth is receiving backlash from the community after reports revealed that its current collection features pictures of naked children.
The Dallas Express received a tip from a Fort Worth resident, informing us that the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth has a section called Diaries of Home. The documentary photography includes pictures of naked children and LGBTQ+ content.
“Diaries of Home features works by women and nonbinary artists, who explore the multilayered concepts of family, community, and home. These artists challenge documentary photography by pushing it into conceptual, performative, and theatrical realms. They probe preconceptions about domestic, familial, and communal spaces in the United States, which are often considered feminine spheres,” according to the Modern Art Museum website.
Of interest, none of the featured images on the museum’s website show pictures of naked children. However, visitors see much more than upon arrival… too much.
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Diaries of Home images, girl jumping on a table; a boy with liquid, private parts blocked, images by DX journalist Carlos Turcios
The Dallas Express team then saw a video on a TV screen where an individual talked about her “queerness.”
“One of my major apprehensions around having a child was not knowing how we would be treated as queer people and queer parents. This is largely why I wasn’t interested in being pregnant,” the individual is heard saying during a video played during the exhibit.
Other photos showcase a topless woman exposing her breasts and a photo of two women together in bed, to name a few.
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Diaries of Home images, images by DX journalist Carlos Turcios
DX then asked an employee when Diaries of Home was created and if they had received complaints from the public.
The employee told The Dallas Express that there were a “bunch of mixed reviews” and that the section was added in November.
According to the museum’s website, the collection runs from November 17, 2024, to February 2, 2025.
The employee did not seem disturbed that such pictures were posted and pointed to a warning sign that said, “This exhibition features mature themes that may be sensitive for some viewers.”
Child pornography is NOT protected under the First Amendment and is a criminal act, according to the Department of Justice.
“Images of child pornography are not protected under First Amendment rights, and are illegal contraband under federal law. Section 2256 of Title 18, United States Code, defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor (someone under 18 years of age). Visual depictions include photographs, videos, digital or computer generated images indistinguishable from an actual minor, and images created, adapted, or modified, but appear to depict an identifiable, actual minor,” the U.S. Department of Justice website states under the Citizen’s Guide to U.S. Federal Child Exploitation Laws.
“Notably, the legal definition of sexually explicit conduct does not require that an image depict a child engaging in sexual activity. A picture of a naked child may constitute illegal child pornography if it is sufficiently sexually suggestive,” the guide continues.
Did the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth break the law? Why has the Diaries of Home collection been allowed to remain open since November?
The revelation has led to condemnation by Tarrant County residents and leaders alike.
“Pedophilia is not art. If this ‘artwork’ were on my phone, I would be arrested. Normalizing this is sick, and I want it to stop,” Tarrant County resident Kenya Alu told The Dallas Express.
“Child rape is not art, it’s pedophilia. Every adult that approves this, from the board to the staff, should be held accountable.” Tarrant County resident Leigh Wambsganss added.
“I am grateful to the concerned citizen who alerted the leadership of Tarrant County Citizens Defending Freedom about the deeply troubling and offensive material being exhibited as artwork in the museum. I also appreciate publications like this one that courageously inform the public about potential crimes against children in our community. I fully support any legal and appropriate actions taken by our local law enforcement to address these issues,” Tarrant County Citizens Defending Freedom Executive Director Rosalie Marie Escobedo told The Dallas Express.
The Dallas Express contacted the Modern Art Museum’s Manager of Strategic Marketing and Visitor Services, Dustin Van Orne, and Director of Communications, Kendal Smith Lake, for comment. However, the DX did not receive a response.