50 Years Since Robert F. Kennedy's Assassination and Its Artistic Legacy
The 2018 anniversary of Robert F. Kennedy's assassination on June 6, 1968, is marked by a reflection on his impact and the artists who portrayed him. Kennedy, a presidential candidate and brother of JFK, was shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles after a campaign speech. His killer, Sirhan B. Sirhan, was convicted. The event, part of a turbulent 1968, inspired artworks by Roy Lichtenstein, Aaron A. Shikler, Bernard Safran, Robert Rauschenberg, and Mimmo Rotella, among others. The article includes a photo gallery of these works.
Key facts
- Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated on June 6, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.
- The assassination occurred shortly after midnight following a campaign speech.
- Sirhan B. Sirhan, a Jordanian-born man, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
- Kennedy was 42 years old at the time of his death.
- The 1968 election year was pivotal globally, including in Italy.
- Kennedy had served as Attorney General under President John F. Kennedy and as a U.S. Senator.
- He supported civil rights and had ties to Martin Luther King Jr.
- Artists such as Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, and Mimmo Rotella created portraits of Kennedy.
Entities
Artists
- Roy Lichtenstein
- Aaron A. Shikler
- Bernard Safran
- Robert Rauschenberg
- Mimmo Rotella
- Valentina Poli
Institutions
- Artribune
- Harvard University
- LUISS University
- Ca' Foscari University of Venice
Locations
- Los Angeles
- United States
- Italy
- Dallas
- California
- Jordan