Todd Lippy's Rationale for Creating Trump Voter Portraits for His Exhibit at the Independent
Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 Presidential election left artist and editor Tod Lippy, much like many on the political left, surprised. Instead of retreating, Lippy embarked on a two-day quest to understand the reasons behind the election outcome. He sought out voter interviews, op-eds, and regional press articles written by Trump supporters, and found himself painting portraits of 50 of them.
Lippy's exhibition, titled "My Fellow Americans," debuted this week as a site-specific installation at the Meeting at Independent New York. Each portrait showcases a sincere, frank, and unexpected representation of the subjects, with Lippy himself transformed by the project. The work developed into an emotional and political exploration, bridging a gap between the artist and the subjects.
Over the course of several months, Lippy immersed himself in the painting process, focusing on details and introspection. As he progressed, he also embarked on a journey of learning the mechanics of portraiture and how to view people from diverse political ideologies. "I actually ended up having a kind of affection for these people," Lippy stated, despite their contrasting beliefs with his own political stance.
The series, featuring almost one portrait per day, was completed during the winter of 2024-2025 in Los Angeles. Lippy's discovery of acrylic gouache, a flat and fast-drying medium, not only simplified the process but also enabled him to see new dimensions within his subjects. "I wasn't just learning how to use the medium," Lippy shared, "I was learning how to see."
The origin of the project can be traced back to election day when Lippy, having supported Kamala Harris in the campaign, was shocked by the election result. This prompted him to delete his social media accounts, and then embark on an obsessive search for Trump supporters who had publicly expressed their reasons for voting. Lippy didn't aim to create a representative sample; instead, he focused on accessing a variety of sources, from op-eds to media interviews and regional press.
The "My Fellow Americans" project emerged as a response to the hyper-polarized times, enabling Lippy to see Trump supporters not only as political entities but as individuals. "Painting someone's face, really studying their eyes, their expression, you get to know them in a way you wouldn't otherwise," Lippy said.
- Tod Lippy's gallery exhibition, titled "My Fellow Americans," is currently on display at the Meeting at Independent New York, showcasing his portraits of 50 Trump supporters.
- The artwork in this exhibition represents a sincere and unexpected depiction of the subjects, marking a bridge between the artist and the subjects, each portrait reflecting a political and emotional exploration.
- During the creation of the series, Lippy immersed himself in the process of learning the mechanics of portraiture and how to view people from diverse political ideologies, eventually developing a newfound affection for his subjects despite their contrasting political beliefs.
- The "My Fellow Americans" project began on election day in 2024 when Lippy, having supported Kamala Harris in the campaign, was shocked by the election result, prompting him to delete his social media accounts and embark on a quest for understanding through Trump supporters' op-eds, media interviews, and regional press articles.
- Upon discovering acrylic gouache, a fast-drying medium, Lippy found that it simplified the painting process and enabled him to see new dimensions within his subjects, learning not just how to use the medium but also how to see.
