Burlington Art Center to Host 'Degenerate Art' Exhibit

One-day show features reproductions of Nazi-banned artwork from the 1930s.

Apr. 20, 2026 at 3:11pm

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A bold, graphic silkscreen print in a grid pattern, featuring a single modernist painting in a palette of neon colors and high-contrast black outlines, conceptually representing the banned 'degenerate' artworks of the 1930s.A vibrant pop art homage to the 'degenerate' artworks censored by the Nazi regime, now celebrated for their enduring creative spirit.Burlington Today

The Art Center of Burlington, Iowa will host a one-day exhibit this week featuring reproductions of artwork that was considered 'degenerate' and banned by the Nazi Party in Germany in the 1930s. The exhibit aims to educate the public about the dangers of censorship and the importance of protecting freedom of expression.

Why it matters

The Nazi regime's crackdown on modern art it deemed 'subversive' or 'mentally ill' is a dark chapter in history that serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of government overreach and the suppression of creative expression. This exhibit provides an opportunity to reflect on these issues and their continued relevance.

The details

The exhibit will include a list of the approximately 16,000 artworks banned by the Nazis, who staged 'shame exhibits' to publicly humiliate the artists and denounce their work. Art Center executive director Elizabeth Pappas says the Nazis slapped the art onto the walls, sometimes without frames, and mocked it.

  • The one-day exhibit will take place this week at the Art Center of Burlington.

The players

Elizabeth Pappas

The executive director of the Art Center of Burlington, who is organizing the exhibit to educate the public about the dangers of censorship.

Daniel Pappas

Elizabeth Pappas' husband and a band leader, who says the events of nearly a century ago remain relevant today.

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What they’re saying

“Hopefully this is a lesson in the dangers of censorship, and how essential freedom of expression is, and how important it is to protect that.”

— Elizabeth Pappas, Executive Director, Art Center of Burlington

“The events of nearly a century ago remain relevant today.”

— Daniel Pappas, Husband of Elizabeth Pappas, Band Leader

What’s next

The exhibit is a one-day event, but the Art Center plans to continue educating the public about the history of censorship and the importance of artistic freedom.

The takeaway

This exhibit serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of government overreach and the suppression of creative expression. By shining a light on this dark chapter in history, the Art Center of Burlington hopes to inspire visitors to cherish and defend the fundamental right to freedom of artistic expression.