American Inquisition: Art as Anti-Imperial Critique in Ohio

The No Place Gallery in Columbus, Ohio, is currently hosting an exhibition named 'American Inquisition,' showcasing the artwork of Shiva Addanki and Nikholis Planck, which critiques the violence of US imperialism and its security policies. The title of the exhibition alludes to phrases from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, expressing solidarity with imprisoned activist Mahmoud Khalil, and is informed by Mike Davis's book 'Buda's Wagon.' Addanki's pieces illustrate downed drones, counterinsurgents, and the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis, while Planck explores extractive infrastructure through images of industrial waste and fortified urban areas. This exhibition opened in mid-March and is reviewed by Zoé Samudzi in the April & May 2026 edition of ArtReview, where she commends its boldness in an era of artistic self-censorship, emphasizing the significance of neocolonial violence.