EYE CANDY

Political Art, From Past to the Ugly Present


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From Andy Warhol’s prints of Jackie Kennedy to Roy Lichtenstein’s cartoon take on the Oval Office, American politics have always proven ripe for artistic interpretation, even if this particularly turbulent election season — though it hasn’t been short on Trump art — may have seemed like something of an exception. In fact, there’s only one work featuring the Republican nominee in “Prints and Multiples”, a set of nearly 100 politically charged artworks from the last century currently on auction at Paddle8, which features everyone from Warhol and Lichtenstein to contemporary artists like Mickalene Thomas, Chuck Close, and Rashid Johnson. Revisit their works, here.

1
Image via Paddle8, © Mickalene Thomas / Artist Rights Society (ARS), New York. Courtesy the artist and Lehmann Maupin, New York and Hong Kong

Mickalene Thomas, “Michelle O,” 2008.

2
© James Rosenquist, image via Paddle8

James Rosenquist, “The Stars and Stripes at the Speed of Light, 2nd State,” 2000.

3
© Barbara Kruger, courtesy of Mary Boone Gallery

Barbara Kruger, “Savoir c’est pouvoir (from Estampes et Révolution, 200 ans après),” 1989.

4
© Stephen Gagnon, image via Paddle8

Stephen Gagnon, “Money Laundering,” 2004.

5
© Robert Longo, image via Paddle8

Robert Longo, “Black Flag,” 1989.

6
© Deborah Kass, image via Paddle8

Deborah Kass, “Vote Hillary,” 2016.

7
© John Baldessari, image via Paddle8

John Baldessari, “The First $100,000 I Ever Made,” 2012.

8
© Chuck Close, image via Paddle8

Chuck Close, “Untitled (President Clinton, from Freedom of Expression portfolio),” 1996.

9
© James Rosenquist, image via Paddle8

James Rosenquist, “Flamingo Capsule,” 1970.

10
© Barbara Kruger, courtesy of Mary Boone Gallery

Barbara Kruger, “We Will No Longer Be Seen and Not Heard,” 1992.

11
© Shepard Fairey, image via Paddle8

Shepard Fairey, “Warning Surveillance,” 2001.

12
© Rashid Johnson, image via Paddle8

Rashid Johnson, “Thurgood in the Hour of Chaos (from America America portfolio),” 2008.

13
© Romero Britto, image via Paddle8

Romero Britto, “1600 Pennsylvania Avenue,” 2009.