CULTURE

Barack 4 Ever

Are you interested in contemporary art? Do you consider Barack Obama the second coming? Do you have $9,000 burning a hole in your pocket? If your answer to all three questions is yes, we...

by Catherine Hong

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Are you interested in contemporary art? Do you consider Barack Obama the second coming? Do you have $9,000 burning a hole in your pocket? If your answer to all three questions is yes, we have the painting for you. The online gallery Mixed Greens is offering this 63″ x 63″ acrylic portrait of the Illinois senator. It’s by rising San Antonio artist Zane Lewis, who created it as part of his ongoing “Apostles” series. (Other subjects in the series include Charles Manson, Kim Jong Il, Pope Benedict and Paris Hilton.) When I spoke with someone at the gallery yesterday, I learned that the Obama painting had until recently been on hold, but that it was now back up for sale.

On the other hand… if you have less than a grand to spend but still want to plaster your walls with charismatic candidate, there’s the work of Sonja Shaffer. The Missouri artist and fervent Obama supporter has painted eight portraits of the senator that will be on exhibit starting May 2 in Kansas City. Ten percent of her total sales (the painting above is $550) will go towards the Obama campaign.

Obama, 2007 Zane Lewis Cut acrylic paint 63″ x 63″

Obama #3 Sonja Shaffer oil on canvas 24″ x 36″