Donald Trump’s naked body will take center stage at a London art gallery this week when a controversial oil painting of the Republican presidential front-runner will be publicly exhibited for the first time as its creator receives death threats in the U.S.
“Make America Great Again,” an 11” x 14” pencil-and-oil painting by Los Angeles-based artist Illma Gore, will be shown at the Mayfair’s Maddox Gallery starting Friday, the art house said. British newspaper have indicated the piece could sell for as much as £1 million, or roughly $1.4 million.
The painting was first posted by the artist on her Facebook account in February and was shared more than 260,000 before being taken down due to an apparent violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
Ms. Gore said subsequent attempts to upload the image have gotten her repeatedly banned from the social media site, and that she is taking her work of art to the U.K. so it can be exhibited freely and without fear of intimidation.
“While it is obviously a great shame that I cannot exhibit it in the USA due to censorship and also threats from Trump supporters to harm both myself and the artwork, I am so excited that it will finally be exhibited in a gallery space where interested parties can come and see it ’in the flesh,’” Ms. Gore said. “London has always had such an open-minded attitude towards art and has regularly displayed works of art that push boundaries and cause controversy, it is the perfect place to show ’Make America Great Again.’”
The painting is intended “to evoke a reaction from its audience, good or bad, about the significance we place on our physical selves,” the artist added — a common theme in her work that took new form when she began reading about the presidential candidate earlier this year.
“I thought it would be interesting if we used someone prolific and controversial like Donald Trump, and put his face on the body of someone I thought was beautiful, but also with a micro-penis. It was to evoke a reaction. I just don’t think people should be defined by their genitals. You can be a big prick despite what’s in your pants,” the artist told Broadly.
“I don’t think one should be emasculated by their penis size. Your genitals shouldn’t define your power, or your status, or your gender,” she told Haaretz. “I think all bodies are beautiful; I based this portrait on myself.”
James Nicholls, director of the gallery, described the piece as “contentious and interesting.”
“Some may be offended, but others will see the humor in Gore’s work,” he said in a statement. “Maddox Gallery is giving London the chance to view the original artwork and make up their own minds.”
Proceeds from the artist’s sales will benefit Safe Place For Youth in Los Angeles, a homeless shelter for adolescents.
• Andrew Blake can be reached at ablake@washingtontimes.com.
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