Press
Saturday, April 21, 2012
A young Black child in a white hoodie offers a policeman some of his Sweeties candy. The officer, who is wearing a Ku Klux Klan hood along with his uniform, points his police issue semi-automatic Glock pistol at the child’s head. They both stand in front of an American flag, the center of which has been torn away to reveal the confederate battle flag underneath.
The scenario described above isn’t from a fever nightmare. It’s the scene depicted in artist Michael D’Antuono’s painting "A Tale of Two Hoodies." As the title suggests, it’s inspired by the Trayvon Martin murder. It’s an inflammatory image, to be sure. Some might call it extreme or even irresponsible. Alas, Extreme emotions often require extreme measures to be properly articulated. (continues)
Michael D’Antuono’s work is striking. His background as an illustrator sets a foundation for a remarkable oil painting style – deep shadows all set among poignant messages. After years of being instructed what to draw, the contraction of severe tendonitis led him to lay down the pencils and pick up oil painting – a move he says does not pay as well, but is much more rewarding. (continues)
The American
Michael D'Antuono has, in the course of a few months in 2009, become one of the world's most controversial artists. But unlike many deliberately 'shocking' new wave artists, D'Antuono claims that this notoriety has come about by accident rather than design.
D'Antuono's painting The Truth was splashed all over the internet and became a media sensation, featured in The LA Times and The National Review, and on many TV and (continues »)
The LA Times
A New York artist has canceled the public showing of his portrait of President Obama after receiving a barrage of angry e-mails condemning the religious nature of the work.
"The Truth," a painting by Michael D'Antuono, was scheduled to go on view Wednesday in Union Square in Manhattan (continues »)
The National Review
Late last night, Kathryn drew attention to this Obama painting entitled "The Truth," by Michael D'Antuono, set to be revealed at an installation in New York's Union Square Wednesday — Obama's 100th day in office: just got off the phone with D'Antuono, and he had some surprising news: he's decided that he's not going to unveil the painting after all. (Though he didn't rule out a possible gallery showing later.) While being provocative is often the goal for a lot of artists, I asked D'Antuono (continues »)
Air America Interview
