Community | January 07, 2009 | 5 comments

Obama's 'Hope' portrait goes to Smithsonian

source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20090107/obama-portrait-gallery/

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ajwashington
WASHINGTON — Even before he takes office, President-elect Barack Obama's image will become part of the permanent collection at the National Portrait Gallery, the museum announced Wednesday.

The gallery acquired the iconic red, white and blue collage by Los Angeles street artist Shepard Fairey, depicting Obama with the word "Hope." The image _ later modified with the messages of "Change" and "Vote" for the Obama campaign _ became one of the most memorable images from the 2008 election. The curators at the Smithsonian Institution museum plan to hang it by Inauguration Day.

"What I think is so fascinating is the ubiquitous nature," said Carolyn Carr, deputy director of the Portrait Gallery. "When people think of a portrait of Obama, they think of this image."

Gallery officials would not reveal how much they paid Fairey for the five-foot tall, mixed-media stenciled collage. Art collectors Heather and Tony Podesta of Washington donated money for the Smithsonian to purchase the work.

Fairey's collage appeared on thousands of stickers, posters and T-shirts across the country. Time magazine recently commissioned Fairey to create a similar image of Obama for its Person of the Year cover.

Fairey's works are also in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
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5 comments // Obama's 'Hope' portrait goes to Smithsonian

  • ninthstate
  • JasonUnbound
    • 0
      JasonUnbound  

    • Well regardless of the value of the artist, the piece itself caught fire. There is no denying that that was 08' most popular piece of artwork for the entire world. It was a major piece of an important moment in history for our country. Not to knock you Buddha2112 but when you say "its just the same old bullshit politics" it makes me sad cause its that attitude that allows it to always be the same old bullshit politics.

    • 3 years ago
  • Buddha2112
    • 0
      Buddha2112  
    • JasonUnbound:

      Can't really say I contribute to the same old bullshit politics. I'm actively working to bring about change to the republican platform, and am a supporter of Ron Paul. Brooklyn Young Republicans is more than ready for change, and I'm more than ready to bring it. I work to bring awareness to the constitution and what it means in particular to our rights, and how the government is way off track. When I say same old bullshit politics, I'm referencing all the media crap, the out of focus platforms by MOST current politicians. I see Obama in the same light as the common picture of modern day politics (which i find bullshit).

      If an attitude of actively trying to change things based on what I believe is right means supporting this bullshit, I'd have to say you misunderstood me. So please don't be sad :)

    • 3 years ago
  • Buddha2112
    • 0
      Buddha2112  

    • Neat collage, but Smithsonian worthy? Really?? I really don't see this as a great piece of art.

      Making a collage and literally stamping it with words and images you mean to represent isn't very original, nor inspiring as piece of art. Then again, I'm not the type to appreciate literal translations into art... It's like stamping a smiley face on a canvas and saying it represents happiness. Doesn't cut it for me.

      Is it simply because it marks a change in the US's history? If so, the only change I've seen is in skin color, which doesn't make a damn difference anyway. It's the same old bullshit politics, hardly making this worthy of a museum. But it is a piece of cultural history anyway... I guess that is important.

      Feel free to disagree, this is art either way.

    • 3 years ago
  • crispyfritters
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