Jessica Fromm “What Universe Are We Living In: An Alt History”

NohoM55 Gallery

This event has ended.

“ What Universe Are We Living In: An Alt History” consists entirely of work prompted by the disturbing presidential election cycle and all that has followed.

I have based my collages on fine art images and known historical events. They bear no similarity to my previous artwork as nothing in my prior experience prepared me to communicate my anxious concern about his effect on the USA and the rest of the world with art.

From Autumn 2016 to January 2017, when this bizarre, ignorant, self-interested personality took the reins of high office from his diametric opposite, President Obama, the very thought that this could happen seemed ludicrous. Outside events presented themselves to me as cartoon ideas as, to my frustration, they did to professional cartoon artists who published theirs long before I considered using borrowed images.

I first published a book of these collages titled, “What If: My Favorite New Facts of 2017”. I presented it as a child’s Golden Book, a picture book encyclopedia of the world according to the childish candidate Trump.

In his pursuit of glory, power and increased wealth from his business holdings, Donald Trump has wrought havoc on the media of mass communications, the nature of the Republican Party and the governance of Congress, radically overturning of norms of civil behavior, of the democratic process and international agreements.

I no longer see President Donald Trump as the orange-faced clown. I do, however, find great relief in using visual humor to skewer him.