Graffiti artwork has been initially used by Ancient Greece, Roman Empire and Urban Gangs to mark their territory and also by some social and political purposes as well. Some politicians are also using this form of art for the purpose of their election campaigns. But now, it has become an inspiring way to put across your thoughts and ideas in the most enticing and appealing way.
In this post, we’ll showcase some interesting and fascinating political artworks that will express the creativity of graffiti artists, designers and illustrators and their skills in this field.
Political Illustrations, Graffiti and Street Art
Obey
Shepard Fairey at Cargo, East London
1984 – not an instruction manual – other wallpaper 19908 – desktop nexus abstract
Barack Obama – Santa Fe Art District
Barack Obama by Koolhats. “I’m asking you to believe not in my ability to bring about real change in Washington. I’m asking you to believe in yours.”
Brian Haw
This is the original canvas Banksy donated to Brian Haw’s display in Parliment Square; part of the parcel confiscated by police.
Sanctuary!
Berlin, July 2007, There’s 300m of the wall still standing that has now become somewhat an Urban Art Gallery. Pretty cool to see it. Would definitely recommend if one is in Berlin! And definitely go to Berlin…
Vote for Nobody
A wall with political graffiti in Guelph, Ontario
An offer of flowers instead
General Nguyen Ngoc Loan offers a Viet Cong prisoner flowers instead of death.
Clinton and Obama as Warhol and Basquiat
Dick Cheney Shotgun Street Art Billi Kid NYC
This version was seen on Wooster Street between Grand and Canal in New York City.
Resist!
And we did, eventually. Former Guelph mayor depicted ‘unfavourably’ in this local political graffiti from Fresh Air. This one may now be out of date, but it’s still great.
Orgosolo
A typical scene from Orgosolo, in the heart of Sardinia. This village is known for its more than 150 political graffiti and for the attachment of its inhabitants to the traditions.
Belfast political propaganda
Various political murals around the streets of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Explosive birth
Just popped out of my head and onto to the wall….”like a new born baby it just happens every day”…
Communist political graffiti
West Bengal has had a Marxist government since the 1970s and the hammer and sickle is ubiquitous throughout Kolkata.
great round up, I can’t even pick a favorite. thx for sharing.
agree
My favourite political art is the USSR constructivist period, especially when Mayakovsky and Rodchenko joined together to create an advertising agency during the NEP. Sublime propaganda.
The very top one is nice and looks almost like a green day CD cover :D
Great post, keep up the good work.
Eva
@friendsofdesign
Nice roundups of political artworks. Some of them have hidden meaning to it. Serves as a propaganda too.
Very interresting and relaxing at the same time. Thanks for compiling it, this post was a real pleasure to read.
Fantastic finds!
I am simply amazed sometimes at the quality and creativity of these artists.
Awesome collection and thanks for sharing!
Great post!! Thanks for sharing
Absolutly great, first sight for me for most of those excellent works, humor, design and militant politics attitude, all in one x 50… what a pleasure! Thank’s for sharing.
well done obey is really awesome that this.
Wooh, great collection, “vote for nobody” is very interesting…
When design and inspiration meet a truly remarkable results can be achieved.
super round up of work.
stunning, intelligent, aesthetic, and most of all – thought provoking!
Shameless self promotion
http://peepshow.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/wellington_feb_20090222-14.jpg
wooow very crazy works
Really great idea for a post. These pieces are very thought provoking…
A world without rulers, now there is an idea.
http://www.art-for-a-change.com/Obey/index.htm
Scroll down just a bit and you’ll see that that first image with the roses in the guns is largely a ripoff.
It’s still beautiful art, but I feel weird giving him credit for something he largely ripped off.
Wow, great posters, thank you very much for the curation.
Fantastic – should be in a book…
Great Collection…..
Excellent collection of posters. Thanks.
What no Obama Joker?
Some good examples there – I like the modern takes on Russian Propaganda posters.
great stuff!
I like lrean me.
This is by far my favorite collection of artwork I have come across. Awesome subject and even more impressive pieces. Political art is fascinating to me in its ability to eject ideas and observations into the spaces that words may otherwise leave silenced. Thanks!
A lot of those images are the work of Shepard Fairey. I was lucky enough to see a solo show/retrospective of his in Boston at the ICA. I had always found it interesting, but seeing the progress of his work and how he fleshed out ideas of time was incredible.
Thanks for sharing!
The headline should have read “50 Stunning Communist Style Artwork”. Pathetic!
Interesting! I can tell the political leanings of the person who posted these works of communist propaganda!
Great work, thanks for posting!
My Obama paintings were shown with Shepard Fairey’s work at the Manifest Hope Gallery in Denver during the DNC an in Shepard’s book “Obama in Art”. I invite you to see my satire paintings of Republicans
I’m the artist Michael D’Antuono, and I’ve just recently completed a trilogy of paintings titled “Portraits Of Redistribution” The paintings illuminating the governments servitude to the corporate elite at the expense of the common man, furthering the disparity in wealth and opportunity. The painting “Too Big To Jail”
of depicts the quintessential Wall Street fat cat standing arrogantly in front of torn headlines telling the story of bailouts, taxbreaks and other favors to the rich and powerful.
Thanks a lot for sharing this work. We recently posted on our blog regarding Street Art and Politics, and this post was very useful. You guys are very welcome to leave your opinion there! Again, thanks!
http://curlystencil.posterous.com/arte-urbano-politica-urban-art-politics
the “Vote For Nobody” is amazing,, good post, thanks for sharing