Mary Beard's Forbidden Art(2022)

Mary Beard's Forbidden Art is a documentary series exploring artworks so provocative they've sparked censorship, removal, and outright bans. Classicist and broadcaster Mary Beard examines pieces that challenge moral boundaries, question authority, and disturb audiences—investigating why certain images terrify institutions enough to hide them away. From ancient sculpture to contemporary installation, the series reveals the stories behind art deemed too dangerous or offensive for public view. Beard considers what these works reveal about power, taboo, and the impulse to suppress. Each episode unpacks a different controversial piece, asking whether removing art solves anything or simply proves its power to provoke thought.