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Michael D'Antuono is an American contemporary artist whose provocative paintings focus primarily on socio-political issues. He is best known for his controversial portrait of U.S. President Barack Obama crucified in front of the Presidential seal entitled "The Truth," which twice became a U.S. and international news story. The UK publication The American called him "one of the world's most controversial artists."
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Pre-fine art career
D'Antuono worked an art director for the New York City advertising agency DMB&B, where he created award winning television campaigns. He also enjoyed a long career as an illustrator.
The Truth (2009)
D'Antuono's painting of United States President Barack Obama titled The Truth, which depicts Obama standing in front of the U.S. Presidential seal wearing a crown of thorns, created a great deal of political controversy. D'Antuono planned to unveil the painting at New York City's Union Square on April 29, 2009, to mark the 100th day of Obama's presidency. The artist canceled the public unveiling due to an outpour of protests by the Religious- Right, including thousands of e-mails, phone calls, and blog posts demanding the planned exhibit be shut down.
The Truth (2012)
Four years after his initial attempt, D'Antuono was invited to finally publicly display The Truth along with several other of his paintings at Boston's Bunker Hill Community College Art Gallery, as part of their politically charged “Artists on the Stump – the Road to the White House 2012" exhibition. This created another firestorm of controversy. Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights president Bill Donahue and former GOP Presidential candidate Herman Cain were among those who vehemently denounced the painting. Glenn Beck devoted two shows to discuss and defend D'Antuono's First Amendment right to exhibit his work.
Both in 2009 and 2012, D’Antuono denied accusations that he was comparing the President to Christ, contending that the religious imagery was simply metaphorical. The artist has stated in interviews that he considers the piece a sociological experiment that reflects the individual viewer’s political prejudice and preconceived ideas.
Other paintings
D'Antuono has focused on several socio-political issues with his other paintings.
His piece inspired by the Trayvon Martin tragedy, A Tale Of Two Hoodies created a great deal of public discourse concerning the racism faced by African American youth.
Taking aim at the Republican opposition to congressional tax increases, D’Antuono created Who the Hell Is Grover Norquist? in 2012. The work candidly shows the power Oz-like Norquist, the founder and president of Americans for Tax Reform, has over the Republican Party.
D’Antuono also released a painting in the wake of the Newtown massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School entitled Brought to you by the NRA. The work focuses on the NRA’s response to the school shooting, which was to call for more armed police officers to be placed in schools. D’Antuono takes a firm stance against allowing the NRA to continue dictating gun policy in the United States. In an interview, he stated that he intended this piece to reflect the “gruesome reality of doing nothing.”
D'Antuono has also done provocative pieces on corporate influence, dependence on foreign oil, media bias, immigration, outsourcing, Citizens United, and other hot-button issues.
Inspiration
D'Antuono displays the Picasso quote "Art is not meant to decorate rooms. It is an offensive weapon in the defense against the enemy" directly under his name in the header of his website. In interviews, D’Antuono indicated that the purpose of his art is to challenge people to think more deeply about socio-political issues.