Raymond criticized the NGA's decision, pointing out inconsistencies in the treatment of flags, noting that other flags representing oppressed groups were allowed to remain visible.

Curator Rosanna Raymond expressed that the gallery's choice to conceal the flags was made reluctantly, highlighting the troubling implications of censorship in the arts.

Critics, including Penelope Benton from the National Association for the Visual Arts, have condemned the NGA's actions as a threat to artistic freedom and expression, arguing it undermines the integrity of the artwork.

The National Gallery of Australia recently faced backlash for covering Palestinian flags on a tapestry in a major exhibition, a decision that artists claim was an act of censorship.

Nasser Mashni from the Australian Palestine Advocacy Network condemned the NGA's actions as a disgraceful erasure of Palestinian identity, calling for an apology from the gallery.

This incident comes amid broader concerns about artistic freedom in Australia, particularly following the dismissal of artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino from the 2026 Venice Biennale.

The NGA justified its actions by citing a 'high level' security risk and concerns about past protests and vandalism, offering artists the option to either remove the work or cover the flags.

The NGA's decision has sparked a wider discussion about the balance between security and artistic expression, raising questions about the future of such exhibitions.

Raymond characterized the censorship as reflective of the ongoing impacts of colonialism and neocolonialism, further complicating the dialogue around artistic expression.

Ultimately, the artists decided to cover the Palestinian flags and related items, including a T-shirt and badge, in order to preserve their relationship with the gallery.

Despite the controversy, the NGA reported that the exhibition has received an overwhelmingly positive response from over 200,000 visitors, though it did not address the specific incident of censorship.