Oscar Wilde described fox hunting as the unspeakable in pursuit of the inedible. There’s an art equivalent happening here in Los Angeles Times story where an odd battle has erupted over two artist’s nudes which were removed from a show of 70 works. Christiana is the artist in question:

“They’ve got a problem with nipples,” Christiana said. “But there is nothing obscene or pornographic about either of these paintings. Human beings breast-feed, and they’ve been doing it for millions of years.”

Liza Simone, executive producer of Phantom Galleries L.A., which sponsored the exhibition, said, “it’s completely up to my discretion what goes up in these exhibitions and what doesn’t.” Phantom is a for-profit community outreach program that specializes in transforming vacant buildings into temporary art displays.

“The public went bonkers when Janet Jackson revealed one nipple during a Super Bowl game,” Simone said. “Anything that could potentially offend someone, we don’t show. “Artists do not decide what is shown and what isn’t. We do,” she added. “We have quality control.”

Simone accused Christiana of “trying to create a fuss for publicity” and “trying to sneak these paintings in through the back door without telling me.” She also said the paintings, which include depictions of bright orange and blue lopsided breasts, are “not of good quality.”

Artist, Exhibit Sponsor Face Off Over Abstract Nude Paintings (Los Angeles Times)