An artwork featuring the face of Donald Trump was allegedly removed from the Scope Art Show in Miami this week by organizers, with the gallery owner calling it “censorship.”
Miami-based L Kotler Fine Art gallery was allegedly forced to remove a piece by the artist Shyglo, who does photorealistic oil paintings of cultural figures (think Marilyn Monroe and Notorious B.I.G.) and shapes neon into words that cover their faces.
The work, titled “Huge,” features Trump’s mug with the lit up word “huge” over it.
Gallery owner Lindsay Kotler said fair organizers told her to remove the piece at 11:30 p.m. on Monday, about 12 hours before opening.
She claims they offered her free space to store the piece, but she turned them down because she didn’t have the proper crate.
During Tuesday’s opening day of the fair, witnesses saw her removing the work from the wall.
“We were asked to remove it immediately from our booth,” by a fair organizer, Kotler claimed to us — adding that, “at first they wouldn’t give a reason.”
She alleged she was later told the art was “suggestive.” “Finally we had to take it down because in the contract they are allowed to tell us to remove artwork,” Kotler says.
“It was pretty alarming. [The work] is not offensive in any way,” says Kotler. “It’s a beautiful artwork. That artist, his paintings are of diverse icons: Michael Jordan, Prince, Obama. He’s not focused on Republicans or Trump. It’s supposed to inspire conversations like art should.”
She also told us, “It’s enjoyable for everybody. It’s lighthearted, it’s humorous, it’s fun. It’s not harmful to anyone or hurts anyone’s feelings. I was baffled. That was not the reaction I thought I would get.”
Kotler sees the move as censorship, she said.
“I’m not an advocate of censorship in art,” she says. “Art should convey thoughts and inspire interpretation. It’s an expression.”
The work in question does not have any overt political meaning, said the art dealer showing at the satellite fair during Art Basel Miami Beach that’s been known to draw stars including Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner.
“The work could go either way,” she said, pointing out it could be taken as pro- or anti-Trump. “It’s up to the interpreter. It’s sad to me that art is being censored and that it all comes down to politics.”
Her gallery, she says, represents artists of all backgrounds, including those who support Trump and his election rival, Kamala Harris.
“I’m not a supporter for anyone,” Kotler says.
In past years, Scope has been known for its cutting-edge works.
Reps for the fair did not get back to requests for comment.
Either way, there was at least one upside to the alleged hubbub surrounding the work’s removal: We hear there is now a bidding war over the piece, which had an original price set at $8,500.
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