Mr. President features works from 1972 to the present by over thirty artists who have created non-traditional portraits of United States presidents. Using various media including video, sculpture, drawing and painting, these artists seek ways to penetrate the mythic perceptions of America’s most powerful men by providing alternatives to the official portrait.
The work in Mr. President runs the gamut from irreverent humor to deeply felt homage. Representing a wide range of cultural backgrounds and artistic orientations, the artists selected for this exhibition share an interest in reflecting on the idea of the American presidency in relation to their own artistic practice. Their work provides a provocative sampling of how the American presidency remains an elastic idea that extends far beyond the men who have held its office.