We Made It! A Tribute to the Best Street Art of the 2016 Election
We all saw the nude Trump sculptures that popped up in cities like Seattle and San Francisco in September, and in May there was the Trump/Putin makeout mural. It seems that after Shepard Fairey’s “Hope” poster in 2008, election season is as much a heyday for artists as it is for pundits.
A dialogue of its own plays out in public spaces as artists turn their political points into stencils and wheatpaste. With the election finally here, we were surprised to find a few election artworks we hadn’t seen before, and a couple that continue to surprise us.
“Nightmare” by Joe Boruchow, Philadelphia
Artfully designed, “Nightmare” features a frowning Trump looming over a crib full of crying babies, while the minorities he’s marginalized since announcing his candidacy glare out at him from the background. If our future is determined by a man whose every decision for decades has been guided solely by financial interests, every child without a trust fund is in trouble.
“Humpty Trumpty” by Ron English, New York
Prophetic and hilarious, Ron English’s interpretation of Trump’s candidacy depicts every moment leading up to today—the moments before Humpty Dumpty’s great fall, when he can’t be put back together again. There’s obvious implications of “egghead” and Trump’s own famous wall (“the best wall” you guys!) but the artist spells it out for us in a poem dedicated to Trump:
“America was a chump for Trump
Hollywood Star Border Wall, by Plastic Jesus, Los Angeles
Plastic Jesus is known for his provocative interventional works that confront big money in big ways. But his tiny border wall carefully installed around Donald Trump’s Hollywood star spoke volumes regardless of how small it might have physically been. Trump wants to protect this nation like he’s protected his brand—staunchly and in defiance of all those who disagree.
“Yes She Can” by Marc Guetta, Los Angeles
Taking up an entire wall, “Yes She Can” brings Rosie’s legacy into the 21st century. It was painted last year in the lead up to the general election, and offers a new take on Rosie the Riveter. She doesn’t have to prove the size of her muscles—she works hard so she’s taking a break with a burger.
#IFeelLikeHillz by Molly Smith, Brooklyn
While it’s been suggested these stencils had been paid for by the Clinton campaign, they were actually designed by a woman in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Inspired by Kanye’s ability to own all the critiques people throw at him, Smith wanted to show that the same is possible for Hillary too.
“Clinton Cash” by Lushsux, Melbourne
While most of the street art created around this election is in opposition to Trump, Lushsux painted “Clinton Cash” to highlight the corrupt campaign finance system—and all the big money donors paying to get Clinton elected. The mural revealed potential bias in social media networks too—Lushsux’s Instagram was taken down after he shared this piece. “It’s fine to go on and do a mural on Trump, but when I go and do one on Hillary Clinton, my account is gone,” the artist told 9NEWs.
This mural also caused a stir when the community complained it was lewd. The artist responded by painting a niqab over Hillary, writing “If this Muslim woman offends u, u r a bigot...” But it was only a few days before the wall was completely painted black.
Because how could we resist?!
“Don’t Feed the Trolls” by TABBY
“Make America Hate Again” in New York
