The Exhibition

Stop Book Bans

An Exhibit of Artists Responding to Censorship

An invitational art exhibition opening October 1, 2026 at The Mercantile Library, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Since 2021, book banning in American schools and libraries has reached levels not seen in decades. Thousands of titles have been challenged or removed — many of them books that give voice to LGBTQ+ youth, communities of color, and anyone whose story has long been absent from the mainstream.

These bans are not accidents. They are coordinated campaigns designed to restrict what young people can read, learn, and imagine. They target the books that help readers feel seen, understood, and less alone.

Art of Speaking Out: Stop Book Bans is a response. Artists were invited to create original works inspired by banned books, censorship, intellectual freedom, and the importance of protecting the right to read and express ideas. The result is an exhibition that is both a protest and a celebration.