apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

not unless it's painted on black velvet and glows in the dark

Politics aside, I find this whole Obama portraiture a little creepy and cult of personality-ish. Like Stalinist Russia, Nazi Germany or Kim Jong Il in N Korea (or any of a number of totalitarian societies):

http://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Cult_of_personality

I totally agree with empirewaste and Theo.

much as i love obama and would happily hang some of these beautiful artworks in my home...it feels a little weird. i would buy some of these now, but not hang them up for several years, until he's out of office. right now, yeah, i agree with theo.

The black and white was was the booth around the corner from ours. I also saw these two there as well http://images44.fotki.com/v1417/photos/2/238791/7020430/MartinSchoeller-vi.jpg, and http://images42.fotki.com/v1363/photos/2/238791/7020430/KurtKauper-vi.jpg.

I don't think I's hang a huge portrait of him in my home, but who knows.

Sorry, my links do now seem to work.


Though it's a bit odd over all. I am not sure I can subscribe to the "cult of personality" theory. As far as I know he didn't commission these works. Now, I have no clue what's in the man's head, but as of now this is perpetuated by the artist not the man.

Stillreign, you can have a cult of personality without it being started or prepetuated by the sovereign.

I have small one on my fridge that I clipped from an election mailing that I dress up with magnets. Currently Barack has a parrot on one shoulder and is high-fiving a "Nerds Get Chicks" magnet. If the presidency goes well I might incorporate a version of one of the grafitti portraits into a wider grouping of portraits of people important to me. Everything else aside, I love the design of it. I feel similarly about the JFK presidential portrait. It's just flat-out an excellent painting even seperate from its full context.

I don't think displaying portraits of political figures (current or historical) is necessarily totalitarian, and attitudes towards the idea are going to vary greatly by culture. Portraits of Stalin in Russian homes, for example, were an update on a much older tradition ("The Red Corner", if I remember my Russian Folklore 101 correctly, and the name had nothing to do with communism), and I've known many older people who display presidential portraits (sometimes alongside religious portraits) because they always have, as have their parents before them.

I think what's made the practice a little odd to us nowadays is that, unlike times past, we are bombarded with images of the president constantly thanks to the 24-7 news cycle, nevermind the fact that much of the "iconic" images of our time have been commercialized to such a point that they've all but lost their "iconic" status.

hmmm i am an obama fan, but i dont think i want his face on my walls. i do like the more graphic obama posters though...

and i really want this tee shirt...

http://printliberation.com/store.php?id=96

no -- i want a portrait of rachel maddow.

I certainly wouldn’t put any old picture of Obama up on my wall, but this election was historic and exciting on many levels. I recently purchased a print both to celebrate the occasion but also because I liked the print. Here's a link to a printer in NYC who, in my opinion, is very talented:

http://www.hyperakt.com/blog/2008/11/05/obama-history-prints/

Why would I want the portrait of a president on my wall? I don't get it.

Duckumu, I like your thinking!

Hi Theo,

Yes, I know, but the over all thought of it smacking of a totalitarian regime for me is reading into an intent of a future that may or may not be. I guess what I mean is my idea of what those terms bring up isn't fitting for "me". The wording is stronger then the reality for me at this time.

How many images do you think there were of JFK in his day?

Like the guy, like the portraits, but wouldn't have them at home. I have no real explanation. I think BornSlippy might be right - we see so many more photos that it's overkill.

But this reminds me. I wonder if that Texas Road House still has that awful mural that includes Bush and Cheney in hunting gear, given said politicians' fall from popularity and Cheney's incedent with his hunting buddy and the bird shot. The one time I ate there, I was tempted to throw peanut shells at the president...

I am huge Obama supporter, but like most above, don't want a large picture of him hanging in my apartment -- though I still have an Obama pin on my front door. I suppose it can seem a bit cultish. I do, however, appreciate the enthusiasm for our new president. It's been a long time coming.

I would not so lightly toss around comparisons to Stalinist Russia, Nazi German and Kim Jong Il. In the wikipidia definition that Theo links "a cult of personality or personality cult arises when a country's leader uses mass media to create a heroic public image through unquestioning flattery and praise."

It's not Obama or his staff who is plastering walls, storefronts and more with his image. It's others who are doing it and commericalizing it. That's a significant distinction.

I am a massive supporter. I volunteered for his campaign for two years. I own a few posters with his image, but none of them are up in my home. Like Chambry, I'll probably hang them after his presidency is over as an interesting historical document. Right now Obama is everywhere and I suppose I want to pay attention to his actions and see how he runs this country rather than gaze into his dreamy eyes. :) I'll gaze into his dreamy eyes in 10 years or so.

I love the bizzaro one of him with his shirt unbuttoned. And, is that a unicorn behind him? HA!

i bought the Hope poster for my brother in law for christmas, for him to put in his classroom, as he always keeps a pic of the president in class. but that one in the white shirt is bordering on sleazy, like the poster bin at Spencer Gifts.

although back in the day a lot of my grandparent's neighbors had their Jesus and JFK.

Given the nature of politics, and politicians, I find it hard to fathom Obama's popularity - my answer is a No - and until I see what he can DO for this country...probably still a No; portraits are not my taste in art.

Sure. In fact, we have several Obama prints. We'll probably display one at a time, but I think they're all works of art.

I mean, if I display pictures of people and pets, why NOT a historical figure like our soon-to-be-President?

I like the "Hope" print a lot, but I wouldn't display a portrait of him until after he's been in office a while and proven himself as President. I hope and pray for the best, but he hasn't even been sworn in yet. What if he ends up being a terrible President? Would you still want his picture on your wall?

um no thanks.

No Obama (or any other President) in my home, but I do have my RNC membership card on my fridge. :-)

I have the Shepard Fairey "Hope" print, but it's not on my wall. I think it's historically important piece of art, by one of my favorite artists. I gave one to my sister and she has it framed on her wall. My girlfriend had one too, but she sold it for $4500!

Not a chance. The message that he is our one source of hope (1st print) and messiah (freaky open shirt print) totally creep me out. But we do have a print of the signers of the Declaration of Independence up in our home.

yikes - i tend to not be into figural art, for whatever reason. i am really excited that obama won and am looking forward to his presidency with cautious optimism - i'm even going to dc for the inaugural, which is prime tacky souvenir buying territory - but i still wouldn't want any of these pictures up. (not even the unicorn - which seems to be frolicking in a river or sea through which the president elect is walking without getting wet: HAHA)

i live in boston, and when i was looking for apartments, how creepy was it to walk in for viewings and see wood paneled, green carpeted monstrosities with JFK giving you the long eyeball from directly across the entryway?

(and for the record, i kind of agree with all the soviet/whack dynasty comments - not because of anything obama is doing, but because that one of all the workers uniting to peace his face together is more than a little disturbing!)

(that's piece... freudian slip? :)

maybe it's my catholic upbringing (ie, relatives have portraits of popes proudly displayed), but i love the old-school feel of this. lots of people had pics of jfk on proud display in the home during his presidency. i think obama inspires the same faith and awe that all great men do.

what Theo said....

that stuff is just fascist looking, embarrassing, really

I personally have an alter that I have created of Obama that I mediate to everyday. I even have a little chant that I do, and everytime I see something of Obama on the news, online or in the papers I drop to my knees and recite it.

i live in australia so i'm an outsider commenting.

i'm inclined to agree with theo and brandyjane.

if i was into displaying my politics so boldly in my home (which i'm not) i'd probably wait until he'd served as president for at least a term. getting elected was surely an epic achievement but the real work starts now.

the one with the unicorn, bare chest and roses is bloody awful.

i'm w/ theo.

I'm going to echo what NL and miss sparrow said....it may seem creepy now, but think of it in context. In the early 60's how many homes had JFK up? And yes my Nana's mother had JFK very prominently displayed next to the Pope. He was an icon for Catholics and Irish-Americans, just as Obama is an icon for many African-Americans and children of immigrants.

Has this gone far enough? I mean, its bad enough that Pepsi has just hijacked his campaign for their own.


Art of a political figure (lets remember where he hails from - Chicago politics) is never welcome in my home. A positive message and great delivery, that's about all I've seen so far.

I bet you'd feel pretty silly with an expensive portrait hanging in your house if you get a clinton-like or bush-like presidency.

Its a bit too early to call folks. And keep in mind what type of work it takes to get to that level (gross).

agree with theo.

Sigh. Such a handsome man, our new president.... long-limbed, firm-chested, bashful-smiled, charismatic yet bookish... sometimes I just wanna grab him by his large, yet perfectly formed, ears and crush my lips against... against...

Sorry, what was the question?

Oh yeah, let's have another round of "cult of personality" charges because an endless year of it wasn't enough.

Let me know, Theo, when Obama's goons knock on your door in the middle of the night to make sure you're down with Hope and Change. Right.

I wouldn't hang a picture of him (or any politician, and probably not a lot of people I don't actually know personally) in my home, and with a crossover into "art" (but is it art?), then is it a portrait of a person or a neat artistic thing which happens to glorify the president-elect? Would maybe buy some art for the future, but probably not from this round-up. I get a chuckle whenever I see the white jumpsuit with the roses Obama. I don't think it's funny enough to hang on the wall, but it's funny enough to put on a coffee mug, or t-shirt, or be content to stumble upon it around the internet from time to time.

You know, I realize that people are so ready for a change and Obama does seem like the answer... But I wonder if people are putting too much hope in him. He's not a god. He's a man, who is likely to make mistakes which will disappoint.

It worries me to see our nation idolize him so much, and he's not even in office yet!

nice to have a street artist (if you can even call Fairey that anymore) in the National Portrait Gallery. Not sure how I feel about it being him though.

I had Obama-overload, even before he got elected. I agree with Theo, Mrs. Mack and Brandyjane. He seems like a nice enough guy that can deliver a feel good speech, but I'm not drinking the Obama kool-aid or hanging a photo of him in my home. So far it seems he's just been the beneficiary of anti-Bush sentiment, but I do hope that he does do a good job and prove himself worthy of all the hope, optimism, and unicorns.

JFK was the last president to inspire so many artists, and LOTS of people had JFK images in their homes during his presidency. Artists who depicted JFK range from Jamie Wyeth to Robert Rauschenberg, Elaine de Kooning, Andy Warhol, and James Rosenquist. Sometimes a person becomes an American Icon, which is not the same as a fascistic cult of personality. He stands for something (hence: icon) in the minds of many people, so his image in someone's home doesn't just say to them "Barack Obama", it says "hope" or "change" or "my president is black like me" or whatever they see in him.

Well said, Jezebella.

Wow, I guess I'm very much in the minority here.

I have David Choe's "Hope #2" silkscreen hanging proudly and prominently in my hallway. Admittedly, that's as much because I'm a fan of Choe's work as it is because I'm an Obama supporter. On that level, it's no different from any other art piece in my home.

As an American antique collector, history enthusiast, advertising freak and art lover I would LOVE to own an Obama image. History will tell us the significance of the images after the fact. It's very foolish to assume an understanding of them before he's even been in office. I can see value in owning an "I Like Ike" pin, a photo of JFK or portrait of Jackie O, or any number of the more negative images - Stalin, Hitler, Saddam, Idi Amin. (I'd be unlikely to display these - but would find value in owning them). They're pieces of popular cultural history for better or worse and give us a window into how passionate people have become at various points in history. These are extremely powerful and moving.

The most appalling aspect of this entire subject is that this poseur is not even in office yet and has yet to prove himself. We indeed can credit him with a delusional avarice for power and self promotion and has been successful in advancing the illusion that having done nothing of substance can be equiliberated with success.

However, politics is the last refuge of a scoundrel an AT should rise above this. Not everyone voted for Obama and that should be respected. Obama art is not at this juncture fodder for decor since it reeks of bias in the very wording of this.

Someone sent that opened-shirt, rose carrying Obama image to me awhile ago and I thought it was kind of gross.
I really didn't like that depiction, like he's a heart-throb. He's not a heart-throb; he's a constitutional law geek who's about to be sworn in for prez, imo.

Anyway, no I probably wouldn't hang any of those up, bcz I have an issue with having portraits of people that I don't know up in my home, generally, when they are still living. That's just me.

But I don't think it suggest political bias to acknowledge that ALOT of artists have created works inspired by the prez-elect; so much so that it seems to have created a new genre: Obamart. Acting like that hasn't happened would suggest bias, imo.

babies

The prints are works of art, but as with any art I can certainly see why someone wouldn't want to hang one in their home. During the past few months I've bought more than a few Obama prints. I intend to frame and hang Choe's #2 and, my favorite, !Cambio Obama by the Date Farmers. However, taking into consideration the historical significance of this past election, I'll save a couple for posterity and give the others away to my siblings.