US artists unite against Trump: from Moby to Obey, a creative revolt
Ahead of the 2016 US presidential election, American artists and celebrities mobilized against Republican candidate Donald Trump. Musician Moby posted a satirical critique of a 2011 Regine Mahaux family portrait of the Trumps on Facebook, calling Trump misogynistic, racist, and arrogant. Over 120 stars joined 'Artists United Against Hate', including Julianne Moore, Michael Stipe, and Lena Dunham, aiming to expose Trump's divisive rhetoric. Street artist Shepard Fairey (Obey) launched 'Make America Smart Again' to combat voter apathy and disinformation. Street artists worldwide created anti-Trump murals: Pegasus painted Trump as Hitler in Bristol; Hanksy's 'Trump poop' went viral in Manhattan; Tabby depicted Trump kissing himself; Butcher Billy merged Trump with Magritte; Furia ACK tagged a London mural 'Democracy – when even an idiot has a voice'. At Art Basel in Basel, an anonymous hyperrealistic sculpture showed a kneeling Trump, echoing Cattelan's 'Him'. The Economist Intelligence Unit listed Trump as a top global risk. Not all celebrities opposed him: Clint Eastwood endorsed Trump, criticizing political correctness. The article also notes Trump's indifference to losing, saying he would golf at Turnberry.
Key facts
- Moby criticized a 2011 Regine Mahaux portrait of the Trump family on Facebook on August 23, 2016.
- Over 120 celebrities joined 'Artists United Against Hate' to oppose Trump.
- Shepard Fairey (Obey) launched 'Make America Smart Again' campaign.
- Pegasus painted Trump as Hitler on a wall in Bristol.
- Hanksy created a viral 'Trump poop' sticker in Manhattan's Lower East Side.
- Tabby made a stencil of Trump kissing himself.
- Butcher Billy merged Trump with Magritte's surrealist imagery.
- Furia ACK painted a mural in London with the text 'Democracy – when even an idiot has a voice'.
- An anonymous sculpture of a kneeling Trump appeared at Art Basel in Basel, echoing Cattelan's 'Him'.
- The Economist Intelligence Unit listed Trump as a top global risk factor.
- Clint Eastwood endorsed Trump, criticizing political correctness.
- Trump stated he would golf at Turnberry if he lost the election.
Entities
Artists
- Moby
- Richard Melville Hall
- Regine Mahaux
- Julianne Moore
- Meg Ryan
- Jane Fonda
- Michael Stipe
- Third Eye Blind
- Lena Dunham
- Michael Mann
- Meryl Streep
- Clint Eastwood
- Shepard Fairey
- Obey
- Amanda Fairey
- Pegasus
- Hanksy
- Mindaugas Bonanu
- Butcher Billy
- Tabby
- Furia ACK
- Maurizio Cattelan
- Helga Marsala
Institutions
- Getty Images
- Vanity Fair
- Artists United Against Hate
- We are Europe
- NRA
- Economist Intelligence Unit
- Art Basel
- Artribune
- Esquire
- French Morning
- Make America Smart Again
- Les Trois Rois
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Bristol
- United Kingdom
- Lower East Side
- Manhattan
- Vilnius
- Lithuania
- Brazil
- London
- Portugal
- Basel
- Switzerland
- Scotland
- Turnberry
- Vermont
- Chicago
- Italy
- Mexico
- Middle East