‘Beheading’ Trump artwork removed after death threats to gallery (PHOTO)
A Portland gallery has been forced to remove a provocative image of US President Donald Trump having his throat slit from behind after a deluge of death threats.
One Grand Gallery displayed the shocking image on its window, which showed a large knife slicing into the president’s neck, complete with blood stains on his shirt. A hand was depicted grabbing his hair back and his nose was bloody.
The artwork is part of a ‘F*ck You Mr President’ installation featuring work from a number of artists who “want to say a personal ‘f**k you’ to the 45th president,” the gallery explained in an Instagram post. The centerpiece of the exhibit is a large ashtray with the words, ‘not my president’ written on it.
The image of the window began circulating on social media on Tuesday, with many calling it a threat against the president. Commenting on the backlash, the gallery posted on Facebook, saying: “The same people offended over a death threat are the same people upholding death threats & violence. Irony.”
"People that are responding, are responding with such anger and violence," the gallery founder told local station KPTV. "People want the gallery to go up in flames with my family."
The One Grand art gallery in Portland has taken down an illustration depicting a knife to the throat of @POTUS@realDonaldTrump after receiving “threats”. We just spoke with the gallery founder who put it up — told me “People want the gallery to go up in flames with my family” pic.twitter.com/qw53aI8b9m
— Tyler Dumont FOX 12 (@TylerDumontNews) July 17, 2018
KPTV reports nearby businesses are also feeling the heat from the anger the illustration has unleashed. An automotive shop located above the gallery said it also received death threats.
One Grand Gallery has since removed its Facebook page or made it private. The window artwork was removed on Tuesday, but the same image remains hanging inside the gallery.
The gallery has previously made its views on the president clear, writing on Instagram in June that, “we hate the president and want to let him know.” It said all profits from the F*** You Mr President exhibit would be split between Planned Parenthood, the ACLU and the Immigration Law Center.
The Secret Service told KPTV it was aware of the artwork, but that it does not comment further about possible investigations. When comedian Kathy Griffin posed with a fake severed Trump head last year, it garnered a reaction from the president himself, who said it was “sick,” and that she should be ashamed of herself.
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
