Image via Complex Original
The 2008 Presidential Election was dominated visually by a single artwork—Shepard Fairey's Hope portrait print of Barack Obama. Despite the controversy that ensued surrounding the source photograph, Hope was widely seen, vastly imitated, and most importantly in retrospect, associated with the candidate who ultimately won. One could argue that the greatest strength of Obama's 2008 campaign was at the intersection of his visual and digital efforts to connect with voters, and Hope undoubtedly played a huge role.
The 2012 Presidential Election, however, lacks a singular defining artwork. In the fine art world, multiple group exhibitions are taking place that challenge, critique, and support candidates. Some are iterations of works from as early as 2008 and others are immediate responses to the current debates. Some of the most influential works are accompanied by either more from the same artist or equally impressive artists from different mediums. While we've highlighted 10 specific pieces, we've also featured them alongside a sampling of the works they are being shown with. Political art, like politics itself, is about conversation and debate.
There have been an unprecedented number of memes, which carry artistic sentiment in their own way, referencing everything from Bill Clinton's speech at the Democratic National Convention to Mitt Romney's statements about Big Bird and PBS at the first presidential debate. Whether it's the performing arts building that will host the final debate in Florida, an aerial graffiti campaign, or an affordable print made to support either candidate, these 10 Artworks Influencing the Presidential Election show that art is still alive and influential in U.S. politics today.
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Obama Tapestries by Chuck Close
Barack Obama Tapestries
Artist: Chuck Close
Medium: Textile Art
This past summer, Chuck Close visited President Obama at the White House in Washington, D.C. to take photographs of him. Two of the polaroids he shot became the basis for a limited tapestry series, which he is selling starting at $100,000 each to benefit the Obama Victory Fund. They are on view now at Pace Gallery in New York City until December 22, 2012. The show also features tapestry portraits of fellow artists Cindy Sherman, Kara Walker, Philip Glass, and Paul Simon.
Entitled by Jill Greenberg
Entitled
Artist: Jill Greenberg
Year: 2012
Medium: FIlm
Jill Greenberg's film Entitled is a purposefully startling projection of white men laughing. It was originally shown outside the Republican National Convention this year, and it aesthetically recalls the image of John McCain she Photoshopped and leaked (originally from her shoot with him for an Atlantic cover) in 2008, which portrayed him as a blood-thirsty shark. Entitled was part of the exhibition Legitimate Rape at Katherine Cone Gallery in Los Angeles, which was on view October 10-17. You can view the entire exhibition on the gallery's website.
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It's Mourning in America by Shepard Fairey
It's Mourning in America
Artist: Shepard Fairey
Year: 2011
Medium: Silkscreen
Shepard Fairey's It's Mourning in America was also part of the Legitimate Rape exhibition at Katherine Cone Gallery in Los Angeles. In addition to this jarring portrait of Ronald Reagan, the exhibit featured Top Elite Faschions, Legislative Influence For Sale, and Corporate Violence For Sale, which all sold out very quickly. Other artists in the group show were Robbie Conal, Jennifer Celio, EL MAC, Sean Cheetham, and Daphne Vega.
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Defend the Arts by SABER
#DefendTheArts
Artist: SABER
Year: 2012
Medium: Aerial Graffiti
On September 23, 2012, Los Angeles-based aerosol artist SABER painted an “aerial graffiti” campaign in the New York City sky, making a statement against Mitt Romney's decision to eliminate funding for the National Endowment for the Arts if elected president. SABER hired five skywriting planes that wrote the phrases "Defend the arts," "Occupy Wall Street," and "Graffiti" in the sky, which connected to a viral Twitter campaign he started using the hashtag #DefendTheArts.
The Keith C. & Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center at Lynn University
The Keith C. & Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center
Artist: Newman Architects
Year: 2012
Medium: Architecture
The Keith C. & Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center is a 750-seat theater used for Lynn University's expanding performing arts program. It's located in Boca Raton, Florida and will host the final debate between President Barack Obama and GOP Candidate Mitt Romney on October 22, 2012.
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We the People by Ed Ruscha
We the People
Artist: Ed Ruscha
Year: 2012
Medium: Lithography
Ed Ruscha's We the People lithograph was made as a part of the "Artists for Obama" campaign, which aimed to raise $4.2 million through the sale of 150 top-notch portfolios. Other artists who contributed were John Baldessari, Richard Serra, Bruce Nauman, Chris Burden, Frank Gehry, and more.
Mitt Romney by Richard Phillips
Mitt Romney
Artist: Richard Phillips
Year: 2012
Medium: Painting
Richard Phillips debuted a giant wall mural of Mitt Romney at the Rauschenberg Foundation in NYC, as part of a group show titled We the People. The exhibition, curated by Alison Gingeras, Jonathan Horowitz, and Anna McCarthy, is meant to explore American identity in the context of the 2012 Presidential Election. While we expressed concern over Phillips' nonpartisan position on the work, it certainly inspired discussion about art's relation to politics, especially as Mitt Romney has publicly stated his intentions to eliminate funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. The exhibition is open until November 9, 2012 at the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Project Space in New York City.
Your Land/My Land: Election '12
Your Land/My Land: Election ’12
Artist: Jonathan Horowitz
Medium: Installation
Your Land/My Land: Election ’12 is a reimagined version of Jonathan Horowitz's 2008 installation exploring divisions within American society. There are red and blue area rugs dividing the exhibition space into opposing zones, reflecting America’s color-coded political and cultural divide. Back-to-back monitors are suspended between the carpets, with one broadcasting a live feed of Fox News and the other broadcasting MSNBC. The installation is a location for people to gather, watch coverage, and talk about the presidential election, while also looking back at the last one four years ago. The installation has been traveling around different museums in the United States and is now at the New Museum in New York City until November 18, 2012.
Black Flag by Skylar Fein
Black Flag
Artist: Skylar Fein
Year: 2010
Medium: Painting
Skyler Fein's 2010 Black Flag painting is part of a group show at Omi International Art Center show in Ghent, New York titled Vote for Me and I’ll Set You Free. It features older work (such as an engraving of the Declaration of Independence) alongside contemporary pieces, all from the personal collection of MoMA trustee Lawrence B. Benenson and united by very strong political statements. Black Flag particularly expresses concerns over the economy and race as they relate to human value and suffering. Visit the exhibition through November 30, 2012, which also includes work by H. C. Westermann, Wes Lang, Antoni Muntadas, Viviane Sassen, and more.
Romney VS Big Bird by Chris Piascik
Romney VS Big Bird
Artist: Chris Piascik
Year: 2012
Medium: Illustration
Chris Piascik's Romney VS Big Bird is an illustrated print release responding to Mitt Romney's comments about cutting government funding for PBS during the first presidential debate. Using the aesthetic of Romney's campaign posters with the caption "Fuck Romney," the matte print is $17.00 and well worth it. Piascik has created multiple, awesome works commenting on topics from both debates so far.
