Artlog

The Republican National Convention opens on August 27 with less than three months remaining before the 2012 Presidential Election. An estimated 45,000 delegates, spectators, and press will descend upon Tampa, Florida. In that crowd or on the stage, you are unlikely to hear much of anything resembling a conversation or discussion about art and culture. Nevertheless, the creative minds of America continue to make strong political statements with their art. Though there is not yet an iconic image for this campaign on the level of the Hope poster by Shepard Fairey, we were able to dig up a diverse group of artworks from over the years that exemplify some of the issues, discussions, and characters of the Republican National Convention.

Top image: George Vlosich, lMitt Romney Etch A Sketch.

Bas Van Oerle, Love Me Romney. Courtesy of Society 6.

Rachel Mason, Kissing President Bush , 2004. Courtesy of the artist.

Terrence Nowicki Jr, Portrait of a Dick, 2004. Courtesy of This Is Historic Times.

Peter Saul, Ronald Reagan (Abortion), 1984, acrylic and colored pencil. Courtesy of BOMB Magazine.

Barry Blitt, New Yorker cover, July 21, 2008. Courtesy of the New Yorker.

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Juan Carlos Marcias, Wet Dreams. Courtesy of the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago.

Illustration by Matt Mahurain, 2011. Courtesy of Politico.

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Bansky, Stop and Search. Courtesy of the artist.

Andy Thomas, A Grand Ol’ Gang. Courtesy of the artist.

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Donald Moffett, Call the White House, 1990, ciba transparency on light box, 40 1/2 × 60 1/2 × 6 3/4 in. Courtesy of the artist and Marianne Boesky Gallery.