These George W. Bush paintings, titled The Art of Leadership, portray world leaders from across the globe. Putin, Stephen Harper and even himself are just a few of those presented on canvas by the past president of the United States.
While a few have scoffed at the former president's attempt to jump into the world of art, his message for the portraits should not be overlooked. The following is a general overview of where Bush had the idea to create these portraits, and why he's put in the time and effort to paint these world leaders: "I place a high priority on personal diplomacy. Getting to know a fellow world leader’s personality, character, and concerns made it easier to find common ground and deal with contentious issues. That was a lesson i had picked up from dad, who was one of the great practitioners of personal diplomacy," as stated on DesignBoom.
Photo Credits: designboom, bushcenter.org
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Personal Diplomacy Through Art
- Former political leaders may use art as a means of promoting personal diplomacy.
- Celebrity Art as Political Commentary
- Celebrities may use their artistic endeavors as a means of expressing political views.
- Art as a Political Legacy
- Former political figures may use art as a means of building a political legacy while expressing personal viewpoints.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Fine Art
- Fine art may be leveraged by celebrities, politicians, and other high-profile individuals as a means of making political statements.
- Political Commentary
- Art as political commentary offers business opportunities for artists and galleries looking to engage with current events and public discourse.
- Personal Diplomacy
- Fine art may be used by businesses and non-profits as a means of promoting dialogue, common ground, and understanding between individuals and groups with diverse perspectives.
