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10 Politically Engaged Artists
Get inspired 22 Apr 2016

10 Politically Engaged Artists

Art history has been marked by artists operating on a wavelength different than beauty, channeling the injustices, imbalances, and harsh realities of the lives of those in need to create their art. Goya’s May 3rd (1808) and Picasso’s Guernica are examples of this.
Contemporary artists continue to address political themes relevant to today, from globalization and climate change to national security and war, attuning their viewers to pressing issues through visual means. In the wake of the political turmoil that the world is witnessing today, here are a few artworks made with a political message in mind.

From Ernest Pignon-Ernest to Obey to the poignant photography of José Nicolas — these 10 artists are trying their best to inspire you to stand for something.

#1 JOSÉ NICOLAS

Vivre pour Vivre
JOSÉ NICOLAS, Manifestation anti-americaine – Paris, 1986

#2 MAX PAPESCHI

MAX PAPESCHI, Hot Dog Walking, 2013
MAX PAPESCHI, Hot Dog Walking, 2013

#3 OBEY

Vote Obama, 2008
SHEPARD FAIREY (OBEY), Vote Obama, 2008

#4 ERWIN BLUMENFELD

ERWIN BLUMENFELD, Portrait of Hitler and a Skull [superimposition], 1971, Proposée par Jonathan F. Kugel
ERWIN BLUMENFELD, Portrait of Hitler and a Skull [superimposition], 1971, Proposée par Jonathan F. Kugel

#5 GILLES LANGE

GILLES LANGE, Palestine, 2015
GILLES LANGE, Palestine, 2015

#6 JR

JR, 28 MILLIMETRES, WOMEN ARE HEROES ACTION IN PHNOM PENH, PENG PANH, 2011
JR, 28 MILLIMETRES, WOMEN ARE HEROES ACTION IN PHNOM PENH, PENG PANH, 2011

#7 ANTONIO SÉGUI

ANTONIO SÉGUI, Sans démagogie, 1972
ANTONIO SÉGUI, Sans démagogie, 1972

#8 XAVIER-ALEXANDRE PONS

ANTONIO SÉGUI, Sans démagogie, 1972
ANTONIO SÉGUI, Sans démagogie, 1972



#9 PIERRE LAMALATTIE

PIERRE LAMALATTIE, De toute façon, elle en avait marre de ce job pourri, toujours en déplacement, 2016
PIERRE LAMALATTIE, De toute façon, elle en avait marre de ce job pourri, toujours en déplacement, 2016

#10 THIBAULT LAGET-RO

THIBAULT LAGET-RO, L'illusion de son destin, 2015
THIBAULT LAGET-RO, L’illusion de son destin, 2015
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