by Richard Mudariki
Over the past 24 months, more than a hundred countries, including Zimbabwe, the UK, Brazil, and Rwanda, have gone to the polls. This global surge in elections has redefined the geopolitical landscape, bringing new leadership to nations like the United Kingdom, Botswana, Senegal, and Kenya. Today, as the United States prepares for its presidential election, artists worldwide are joining the dialogue, influencing perspectives and shining a spotlight on the critical intersections of art and politics.
As November's U.S. election approaches, where incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris faces off against former President Donald Trump, many artists have rallied in support of Harris. Through the group "Artists for Kamala," renowned creatives like Carrie Mae Weems, George Condo, and Jenny Holzer are contributing their work to back her campaign. The sale, launched on October 1, includes auctioned and fixed-price pieces, with proceeds dedicated to Harris’s campaign. This isn’t the first time art has been mobilized for a political cause, but the scale and scope of involvement signal the strength of political engagement within the art world today.
Art’s ability to capture and communicate complex emotions makes it an influential tool in political discourse. Iconic artist-activists like Judy Chicago, Amy Sherald, and Shepard Fairey have used their visual language to support progressive causes. Fairey, famous for his “Hope” poster during Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, has returned to the political sphere with his “FORWARD” poster, endorsing Harris. The artwork features Harris looking upward, symbolizing optimism and forward momentum, reflecting her campaign slogan: "We are not going back."
This trend isn’t limited to the U.S.; across Africa, artists have consistently used their work to comment on politics. In Zimbabwe, music has been especially powerful. Local musicians like Jah Prayzah have woven political commentary into their songs, with tracks like Mdhara Vachauya resonating with the public and being unofficially adopted by political figures. Zimbabwe’s legendary musician Thomas Mapfumo has long championed the struggle against oppression, with songs like Tumira Vana Kuhondo galvanizing the independence movement.
Visual artists, too, have conveyed the political atmosphere through their work. In 2017, Zimbabwean artist Misheck Masamvu’s piece Zombie President critiqued the country's autocratic leadership, featuring abstracted figures that symbolize the complex struggle within Zimbabwean society. Similarly, Gresham Tapiwa Nyaude uses vivid colors and distorted forms to convey issues of identity, propaganda, and consumer culture, mixing visual motifs from African and Western traditions. His works often resemble scenes from political rallies, presenting fragmented bodies as a metaphor for the fractured social and political realities in Zimbabwe.Other notable artists are Kudzanai Chiurai and Dan Halter.
In other African countries, artists like Senegalese painter Omar Ba use surrealist imagery to comment on corruption and inequality, blending traditional African aesthetics with European influences to depict the continent’s political challenges. Ba’s works frequently feature hybrid creatures that represent the twisted nature of power and leadership, challenging viewers to consider the roles of authority and governance.
The art world’s participation in politics is a reminder that creative expression holds a unique power to influence public opinion. In the months leading up to the U.S. election, art has become a pivotal platform for both critique and support, proving that artists are not only chroniclers of history but active participants in shaping it. Whether through music, visual art, or public murals, these artists underscore the potential for art to inspire change and, ultimately, to impact the world beyond the gallery.
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