Activist Artist Michael DAntuono Upends the EstablishmentArt is not made to decorate rooms. It is an offensive weapon in the defense against the enemy Picasso Deemed one of the worlds most controversial artists by more than one foreign publication, Michael DAntuono is known for making art that challenges people to think more deeply about sociopoliticalissues. His work has received high praise from fellow artists Shepard Fairey and Banksy. In 2009 DAntuono created a firestorm with his painting The Truth as seen above. The artists intent was to the to let the diverse interpretations of the piece expose how badly peoples political prejudice distort subjectivity and how dangerously divided we are as a nation. The piece worked too well, igniting such great protest that DAntuono had to cancel his planned installation in New Yorks Union Square Park on President Obamas 100th day in office. The painting became an international news story with much-received hate mail. DAntuono finally had the opportunity to exercise his first amendment right to exhibit the painting at an art exhibition in Boston in 2012. Once again the painting created a firestorm. Former Presidential candidate Herman Caine denounced the piece, and the president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights called for its removal from exhibition. Surprisingly, Glenn Beck defended the artists right to exhibit his art by devoting a show to it and another one with Michael as his guest. DAntuonos provocative takes on racism, class warfare, the environment, corporate influence and other hot-button issues have made him the object of censorship and derision by those who want to protect the status-quo. Yet he continues to make art that speaks truth to power, perpetuating the historic role of the artist to spark social change. selfnews Post is happy to have been given the opportunity by Michael to present his paintings in our articles. Please see Michael DAntuono at work in the video below, and visit his site at Art and Response. 