Artwork / Archives / 2018 / Terrorist

an American terrorist or a blond representation of Jesus wearing robes made of the American flag and shooting thoughts and prayers out of an AR-15 gun
Gwenn Seemel
Terrorist
2018
acrylic on unmounted canvas
24 x 35 inches

$1100

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In 2017, I made a pair of paintings that were, in part, a commentary on the way many Americans are more terrified of sex than of gun violence. With the escalating gun violence in 2018, the message in those images began to feel too nuanced and smart. So I decided to paint this portrait of Jesus shooting out thoughts and prayers to make sure everyone knows exactly where I stand.

This painting was originally released under the title If This Painting Offends You, Talk to the People Who Believe this Image Is a Beautiful Representation of Their God. I revealed the true title, Terrorist, after the Gilroy, El Paso, and Dayton shootings all happened in quick succession in the summer of 2019.

thoughts and prayers
detail image
white jesus with blond hair
detail image