Arnold Mesches, The FBI Files 53, 2003. Acrylic on paper on canvas, 12 x 9 in. Courtesy of the artist and Life on Mars Gallery, Brooklyn, NY.
During the 1950s, the CIA funded and marketed abstract expressionism in an effort to counter the Soviet Union and promote the freedom of expression enjoyed by American artists. In this Sunday Story, learn about the 1950s and 1960s painters who contributed to the agency's collection, and explore the history of the artwork fostered, amassed, and used by the CIA.
This video was originally published on The CJM's Facebook Live on June 14, 2020.
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The exhibition Chasing Justice (on view at The CJM Nov 19, 2015–Feb 25, 2016) was inspired by the biblical exhortation of Deuteronomy (16:20) to “pursue justice.” Three artists, Johanna Barron, Robbin Henderson, and Arnold Mesches, produced bodies of work exploring different approaches to this Jewish commitment. All resulted in a variety of engagements with the government, from surveillance to arrest.
Arnold Mesches, The FBI Files 53, 2003. Acrylic on paper on canvas, 12 x 9 in. Courtesy of the artist and Life on Mars Gallery, Brooklyn, NY.