This mural defies fascists

About this episode

The episode explores the life and work of artist Luis Quintanilla, focusing on his surviving mural as a symbol against authoritarianism.

Artist Luis Quintanilla fled Spain to escape fascism and civil war, but most of his work did not survive. Today, only two of his murals remain in the world, one of which sits in an otherwise ordinary corner on the campus of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. 85 years later, Quintanilla’s bizarre and enthralling masterpiece stands as a testament to immigrants, and a warning against authoritarianism. KCUR’s Nomin Ujiyediin reports. Support this podcast by becoming a KCUR member!: https://kcurwebdonate.umkc.edu/alleg/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=F13SOCIAL&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=8cudlVFocLfjxn40cNGmMa1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Topics covered

• art
• fascism
• immigration
• history

Keywords

• mural
• University of Missouri-Kansas City
• authoritarianism
• civil war

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Spain

More episodes of AD FREE - PHKC - YOUTUBE - RSS

• How women made the U.S. a soccer powerhouse · March 25, 2026 · 42 min
• Reclaiming the right to jaywalk · February 17, 2026 · 27 min
• When jaywalking became a crime · January 29, 2026 · 27 min
• Leila’s Hair Museum lives on · December 17, 2025 · 27 min
• Lamar Hunt and the dream of U.S. soccer · November 21, 2025 · 38 min
• Are tornado urban legends like the ‘Tonganoxie Split’ real? · October 20, 2025 · 28 min