Abraham Lincoln (portrait)
Artist: Hunt Slonem
Year: 2017
Date of Action: June 2017
Region: Russia and Central Asia
Location: St. Petersburg, Russia
Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion
Medium: Painting
Confronting Bodies: Russian Government Officials
Description of Artwork: Artist Hunt Slonem's show was presented at the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg Marble Palace. The show included portraits of US VIPs as well as paintings of rabbits, flowers and birds. The exhibition also included two paintings of Queen Elizabeth II and one of Abraham Lincoln
The Incident: The show was reviewed by Russian officials before the opening, and the portrait of Abraham Lincoln was removed from the show. The show was very successful and Putin said that the show was "uplifting and monumental."
Results of Incident: The artist said that the removal of the portrait did not bother or upset him, as it was not the focal point of the show. Despite the artist's reaction,, many still saw this as political censorship.
Source:
Russian censors remove Abraham Lincoln portrait from art show, NYPost, 6/1/2017
Russian museum says government didn’t censor art show, NYPost, 6/2/2017
