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Key Takeaways
- Grand Valley State University removed a painting titled 'Pétalos de Cambio' featuring Catholic imagery and leftist slogans, after it was initially displayed and subsequently faced backlash.
- The painting was created by Irlanda Beltran and included phrases such as 'homophobia is lethal' and depicted two men kissing, leading to criticism from various groups including students and legislators.
- Noah Mullins, a Catholic student opposing the artwork, reported that the university placed it in storage after public outcry, although it was briefly returned to the provost’s office before being removed again.
- Mullins advocates for the permanent removal of the painting, arguing that since it was purchased with university funds, students should have a say in its display.
Grand Valley State University has once again removed a painting that included Catholic art covered with leftist messages, The College Fix has learned.
Earlier this year, the public university in Allendale, Michigan first removed a painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe which included Spanish slogans into the image, which translated to “homophobia is lethal,” “no more feminicide,” “sexuality,” and “trans.”
The art (pictured) also includes an image of two men kissing. The primary image is a version of a famous painting in Catholic culture of when Mary, the mother of God, appeared to a 16th-century peasant in Guadalupe, Mexico.
The university then put the painting back up in the provost’s office sometime in the spring semester, but removed it on Oct. 4, according to a Catholic student who is leading opposition efforts to the work of art.
“[T]he reason they haven’t publicized it is because they never publicly said it went up,” Noah Mullins told The Fix via a phone interview last week. “And so they’re not going to say it publicly came down because they’re just trying to make sure it doesn’t hit the local press again.”
Several other news outlets had covered the university’s decision to place the painting in the provost’s office, including LifeSiteNews and The Hollander, a Michigan publication.
The university purchased the work, titled “Pétalos de Cambio” (Petals of Change), from graphic design alumna Irlanda Beltran for $1,800. It is a set of three images depicting the Virgin Mary, featuring various feminist, leftist, and LGBTQ+ slogans.
The university originally displayed it in the Kirkhof Student Center September 2024, before officials placed it in storage in February 2025. The removal occurred after public backlash, including criticism from legislators.
The university put the art in the provost’s office soon after.
“[T]hey know from dealing with me and other students how consistent we are in applying pressure, and our resolve to get the victory we want,” Mullins said. “We went to Lansing [the state capital] and have rallied quite a few representatives. The majority of the Republicans in the Michigan House have rallied behind this issue.”
Mullins said there has been a variety of support outside of just Catholics, saying that Protestants on university staff have also shared support. Muslim students also helped advocate for removal of the painting.
While the artwork is no longer displayed, the university still owns it and could put it back up whenever they desire, as has already been seen. Mullin is now advocating for GVSU to get rid of the artwork permanently. “We want to remove from the collection so it doesn’t have a chance of going back up on main campus or any satellite campuses that the university owns.”
He also addressed potential criticism that he is participating in cancel culture, when asked by The Fix.
Since “the university bought this piece” it is “no longer…owned by the artist,” Mullins said. Since it belongs to the university, students should have a say in how it is used, he said.
“If our money is going towards it, we certainly have the right to speak out,” he said.
The university’s vice president of communications, Chris Knape, did not respond to two emails in the past week and a half asking for comment on the controversy. Beltran, the artist, also did not respond to two emails sent in the last week and a half.
However, Knape provided a statement to the student newspaper.
“With over 28,000 items in the Art Museum’s collection, and after a year on display on the Allendale Campus, the piece, along with others within the Provost’s office, was rotated out of that location to make space for new pieces aligned with the Provost’s vision for art in her office,” Knape told the Lanthorn. “Art created by faculty, staff, students and alumni or Michigan artists.”
MORE: GVSU honors college focuses on ‘social justice’ to increase ‘diversity,’ emails show
